India, Sri Lanka prioritise secure sea lanes in Indian Ocean partnership

Rajnath Singh met Sri Lankan leaders in Colombo and urged deeper maritime cooperation. His pitch placed secure sea lanes, lawful navigation and shared security at the heart of regional growth.Stock photo used for illustrationDefence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said India and Sri Lanka must keep secure sea lanes, freedom of navigation, respect for international law and unhindered maritime trade at the centre of their priorities, saying these are vital for the growth and prosperity of South Asia. Speaking in Colombo on India-Sri Lanka maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region, he said the two countries were well placed to work together for peace, security and stability across the region.His remarks came after what he described as an "extremely productive" meeting with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The two sides reaffirmed that, as civilisational twins, close neighbours and maritime partners, India and Sri Lanka would continue to work jointly to ensure the safety, security, peace and prosperity of the region.Singh, who arrived in Colombo on Tuesday on a three-day visit and became the first Indian defence minister to visit Sri Lanka in 38 years, said freedom of navigation and open trade routes were crucial for regional growth. "Therefore, secure sea lanes, freedom of navigation, respect for international law, unhindered maritime trade and commerce should remain our pivotal priorities," he said. He added that the two countries must work together to create a favourable and secure maritime environment and stay prepared for emerging maritime challenges before they become a serious threat to their developmental interests.He said Sri Lanka occupied an important strategic location in the Indian Ocean Region, overlooking busy trade routes that were not only vital to global trade but also shaped the region's growth, development, safety and security. Calling the Indian Ocean central to the economic and strategic future of the region, Singh said that for India and Sri Lanka, both maritime nations, this was a lived reality that shaped their trade, security and destinies. "Together, India and Sri Lanka are well positioned to serve as the closest partners in safeguarding peace, security and stability across the Indian Ocean Region," he said. Describing Sri Lanka as a friendly neighbour, a longstanding friend and a reliable partner, Singh said India-Sri Lanka maritime cooperation was both mutually beneficial and essential to their collective safety and security. He said India would be delighted to share its experience and work closely with Sri Lanka for the continued growth and prosperity of the region. "Our development projects in Sri Lanka are always focused on the requirements of the people of Sri Lanka and the priorities set by the Sri Lankan Government," he said. He also said that as the Indian Ocean entered a period of strategic and economic change, the two countries must combine their strengths to deal with emerging challenges. "Our ports can become engines of shared economic growth, while our maritime industries can become the drivers for the future prosperity not only of our own people but our region as well," he said.On the fishermen issue, Singh said the two countries needed to work together to address fisheries disputes in a mutually beneficial manner while keeping in view the relevant laws and geographic jurisdictions. "We need to work together to strengthen our systems to avoid fisheries disputes, handle them with due care and concern as this is a livelihood issue, while at the same time ensure maritime law enforcement," he said. He said he saw a future in which India and Sri Lanka developed a mutually beneficial and integrated maritime domain awareness system to provide comprehensive real-time maritime information. He said this would require systematic cooperation among agencies, navies and Coast Guards to deal with illegal fishing, suspicious vessel tracking, narcotics trafficking, smuggling, terrorism and other security threats. Singh said India was always willing to join hands with Sri Lanka in areas such as capacity building and exercises, and remained committed to helping further strengthen cooperation. He said the two countries should go beyond the traditional template, build on existing complementarities and develop new ways of forging a closer maritime partnership. Referring to MAHASAGAR, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the Indian Ocean Region, he said "Mutual" and "Holistic" were the key words in the concept. He also called for a joint maritime humanitarian assistance and disaster relief system involving concerned agencies, disaster management bodies and scientific organisations for rapid response to natural calamities and man-made disasters, and said maritime cooperation should also include an institutionalised economic framework covering fisheries and aquaculture, marine biotechnology, ocean science, maritime environment protection and preservation, and maritime tourism. Overall, Singh's message was that India and Sri Lanka should deepen maritime cooperation across security and economic areas to support peace, growth and stability in the region.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 9, 2026 17:02 IST