The Pathfinder Foundation last week, in collaboration with the Ananta Aspen Centre, in India, hosted the Second Virtual Roundtable, ‘Navigating the Maritime Maze: India and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean Region.’
The discussion brought together experts, policymakers, and academics from India and Sri Lanka to address pressing maritime security challenges and foster greater regional cooperation. The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has emerged as a critical focal point for geopolitical competition and collaboration, impacting littoral states' economic and security interests. Against this backdrop, the Roundtable focused on enhancing bilateral coordination between India and Sri Lanka to tackle issues such as IUU fishing, drug trafficking, and other evolving maritime threats. Pathfinder Foundation Chairperson Bernard Goonetilleke, and Ananta Aspen Centre CEO Indrani Bagchi, made opening remarks highlighting the importance of maritime partnerships in ensuring regional stability.
The first session devoted to ‘Coordinating Naval Patrolling Efforts and Surveillance Operations in the Indian Ocean’ was moderated by Jindal Global University (JGU) Associate Professor Elizabeth Roche, who delved into strategies for bolstering naval cooperation and surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region. Sri Lanka Navy Director General Operations Rear Admiral B. Liyanagamage, and Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Captain Abhijit Singh, presented actionable insights on addressing key maritime security challenges. Discussions centred on the evolving security threats posed by drug trafficking and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the importance of intelligence sharing, capacity building, naval patrolling,and integrating advanced maritime technologies. Both speakers underscored the potential of collaborative efforts between India and Sri Lanka to establish standardised protocols for monitoring and responding to maritime threats and challenges.
The second session on ‘Reviewing Maritime Laws and Agreements’, moderated by Pathfinder Foundation Director Amb. (Retd.) Ahmed A. Jawad, focused on maritime laws and bilateral agreements between India and Sri Lanka. National Maritime Foundation (NMF) Director General Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, and Senior Lecturer at the University of Colombo M.A.M. Hakeem, highlighted the critical need for updated legal frameworks to address contemporary maritime challenges.
Participants emphasised the necessity of maritime laws to foster a cohesive approach to marine resource management, including fisheries and seabed minerals, to promote long-term stability and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region.