The fifth NSA-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave has concluded.
The two-day conclave was held at Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa and began on March 9.
It was an initiative by the National Security Advisor’s Office of the President’s Office and the Maldives’ Ministry of Defence and National Security.
The meetings were attended by delegations from the founding members of the conclave, the Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka, and its newest member, Mauritius.
Further, delegations from Seychelles and Bangladesh also joined as observers. The delegation from Bangladesh was led by Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Defence and Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Seychelles was represented by Chief of Staff of Seychelles Defence Forces Simon Archange Dine.
In a joint press statement issued following the conclusion of the conclave, the president’s office revealed that the conclave ended on Thursday.
The meeting saw Minister of Defence and National Security Mariya Ahmed Didi, Ajit Doval, KC, National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of Republic of India, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd.), Secretary to the Ministry of Defence of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Kumaresan Ilango, National Security Adviser to the Republic of Mauritius shedding light on key areas of cooperation to enhance and strengthen regional security in five pillars.
They include maritime safety and security, countering terrorism and radicalization, combatting trafficking and transnational organized crime, cyber security, protection of critical infrastructure and technology as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The conclave saw member states agreeing on a roadmap for further cooperation and collaboration on these pillars of cooperation.
The roadmap in question, will pave way for robust mechanisms for coordinated responses capacity building and enhancing information flow between member states.
The conclave reaffirmed mutual commitment to engage in consistent joint efforts to achieving regional peace and security as maritime neighbors.
