COLOMBO : The first Deputy National Security Adviser level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave was hosted virtually on Wednesday August 4 by Sri Lanka under the Chairmanship of General LHSC Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of Army of Sri Lanka and with the participation of Pankaj Saran, Deputy National Security Adviser of India and Ms. Aishath Nooshin Waheed, Secretary, National Security Adviser’s Office at the President’s Office of Maldives .
Bangladesh, Mauritius and Seychelles participated as Observers and were represented by Lt. Gen. Waker Uz Zaman, Principal Staff Officer to Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh Army, Mrs. Pusmawatee Sohun, Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, Mauritius, and Colonel Micheal Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces, Seychelles People’s Force.
The decision to establish Colombo Security Conclave was established in November 2020 at the NSA-level meeting of India, Sri Lanka and Maldives to forge closer cooperation on maritime and security matters among the three Indian Ocean countries.
The Deputy NSA level meeting held on 4 August 2021 was a follow up to the decisions taken at the NSA level meeting under the expanded format of the Colombo Security Conclave.
General Shavendra Silva, Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), together with a representative group of Tri-Service Officers represented Sri Lanka during this Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation forum which largely focused on the security of regional maritime operations, prevention of smuggle of contraband, sea piracy, threat perceptions, close trilateral co-operation for further enhancement of security concerns and mitigation of illegal activities in the seas.
The 5th Deputy National Security Advisors’ (DNSA) Level virtual meeting, ‘Colombo Security Conclave’ (CSC), related to maritime security in the region commenced on Wednesday (4) at the Army Headquarters with the participation of top level security officials from India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
This year’s conclave also discussed current security measures, provisions, use of latest technology, bilateral cooperation and effectiveness and sustainability of such security measures among nations in the region, etc.
The virtual session was held throughout the day exchanged views and shared experiences among the nations that could further enhance trilateral cooperation for the betterment of the region and trilateral joint operations.
The Deputy NSA level meeting identified four pillars of cooperation under the Colombo Security Conclave, namely, Marine Safety and Security, Terrorism and Radicalization, Trafficking and Organised Crime and Cyber security. It discussed specific proposals for cooperation and each of these pillars including holding regular interaction, joint exercises, capacity building and training activities. All participants stressed the vital role of cooperation and coordination in dealing with contemporary security challenges in the region, as well as capacity and capability enhancement among themselves, in keeping with the spirit of regional cooperation.
The meeting was marked by convergence of views on common security threats and was held in a warm, positive and forward looking manner.
