India, Sri Lanka Coast Guards Strengthen Maritime Ties

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) convened their eighth high-level meeting (HLM) in New Delhi on Monday, August 11, marking another milestone in their enduring maritime partnership. Led by ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani and SLCG Director General Rear Admiral Y.R. Serasinghe, the talks focused on deepening cooperation in critical areas: marine pollution response, maritime search and rescue (SAR), and maritime law enforcement.

The discussions, held under the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), emphasized joint strategies to tackle oil spills, enhance SAR coordination, and combat illicit activities like smuggling and illegal fishing. Both sides explored capacity building, including training exchanges and technology sharing to boost operational readiness.

This meeting reaffirmed the ICG and SLCG’s commitment to addressing contemporary maritime challenges, ensuring safety, security, and environmental stewardship in the Indian Ocean. The dialogue underscored plans for deeper operational coordination, such as joint patrolling and regular bilateral drills, to promote regional stability.

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The SLCG delegation’s visit, spanning August 10–14, includes professional interactions with ICG units, offering opportunities to exchange expertise and explore new initiatives. As maritime security remains a cornerstone of India-Sri Lanka relations, this HLM signals a robust step toward a collaborative and secure maritime future.

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