• PM urges operationalising BIMSTEC Tech Transfer Facility and resolving long-standing issues 
• SL signs BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Cooperation and MoUs with IORA/UNODC

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya called for the swift implementation of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation’s (BIMSTEC) newly finalised Plan of Action on Human Resource (HR) Development aimed at equipping citizens with critical skills for future challenges, as HR development is central to long-term growth and regional prosperity.

She stated this in her statement at the Sixth Summit of the BIMSTEC held from 2-4 April in Bangkok, Thailand, under the theme, ‘Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC’. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Premier Dr. Amarasuriya, and also included the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra. 

She emphasised the importance of enhanced regional collaboration and reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment as the Lead Country in the area of Science, Technology and Innovation. She also highlighted Sri Lanka’s anticipation for the operationalisation of the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Colombo.

She also pointed to untapped potential in trade, economic cooperation, and connectivity, urging openness and knowledge-sharing to resolve long-standing issues. Advancing physical, digital, and energy connectivity was noted as essential to accelerating the BIMSTEC’s broader cooperation goals.

Meanwhile, at the 20th Ministerial Meeting, Hemachandra signed the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Cooperation on behalf of Sri Lanka, a step toward enhanced maritime collaboration. Additional memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), reinforcing the BIMSTEC’s international partnerships.

The Summit concluded with the adoption of several key documents, including the Sixth BIMSTEC Declaration, the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030, the Rules of Procedure for BIMSTEC mechanisms, the Report of the Eminent Persons Group on the BIMSTEC’s future direction and a Leaders’ Joint Statement expressing solidarity with Myanmar and Thailand following the 28 March earthquake.