14 December 2012

Sri Lanka: “Galle Dialogue - 2012” will pave way for Strategic Cooperation and Partnership to achieve lasting Security, Stability and Success in the Indian Ocean Region


The International Maritime Security Conference, “Galle Dialogue - 2012”, organized by the Sri Lanka Navy under the aegis of Ministry of Defence, got underway in the port city of Galle today, 13th December 2012. Ten (10) papers are scheduled to be presented to an audience of 69 foreign delegates from 28 countries and 80 local delegates at the two-day dialogue held under the theme, “Strategic Maritime Cooperation and Partnership to face the future with Confidence”..

Secretary of Defence Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa delivered the keynote address and Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage made the welcome address.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Prof. G.L. Peiris, Governor of the Southern Province Hon. Mrs. Kumari Balasuriya, Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunathilleke, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya and Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrema also graced the inaugural session. 

Secretary of Defence in his keynote address stated that the broad theme of the Galle Dialogue this year reflects the need for nations to look beyond immediate security threats and operational considerations to forge cooperation and partnership at the strategic level. Strategic cooperation and partnership is essential to achieving lasting security, stability and success in the Indian Ocean Region, he emphasized.

It would be very encouraging if the large navies in operation in the Indian Ocean could increase their cooperation with the smaller naval powers, the Secretary of Defence went on to add. Even though the smaller navies do not have the resources or naval assets to significantly impact the security of this ocean region on their own, by working together with the large naval powers, they will be able to make a difference, he emphasized. 

In particular, the sharing of information, he stressed, will lead to greater security overall, which is greatly desirable from the point of view of all nations in the Indian Ocean littoral.

Unfortunately, the Secretary of Defence opined, there is a degree of mistrust between the major powers in the Indian Ocean region that presently limits the degree to which effective and long lasting multilateral cooperation can be achieved. 

With so much change and uncertainty in the regions so close to us, it is especially important that stability in the Indian Ocean region is fostered, he emphasized. The long-standing democracies in this region require support instead of misguided and counterproductive criticism from some in the international community.

The Secretary of Defence expressed his confidence that the many presentations and discussions that will take place during the Galle Dialogue - 2012 will be instrumental in fostering improved multilateral cooperation between the nations with an interest in this region. Greater cooperation and partnership between the naval powers in this region will benefit not only the nations in the Indian Ocean littoral but the entire world, and enable all of us to face the future with confidence, the Secretary concluded.

Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy in his address, welcomed all the delegates to the historic city of Galle for the Galle Dialogue - 2012, the forum for gathering of seafarers. The Indian Ocean, the Commander emphasized, is becoming very focused in the 21st century, for various reasons. As such, we have obligations and responsibilities to share our experiences and discuss key issues concerning all of us and for our future. Sri Lanka is ready to share her experiences for the common good of the maritime commons in the Indian Ocean, he stressed. Sri Lanka, being in the geographic centre of the Indian Ocean and very close to the primary and the busiest Indian Ocean shipping lane, has a responsibility to maintain freedom of sea lanes in this region. Therefore, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that the Indian Ocean remains peaceful for maritime commerce to function unhindered for the common good of not only the Indian Ocean, but the whole world. Strategic cooperation, hence, is the only way forward in this regard, the Commander stated. We must not allow, our waters, harbours, systems to be exploited for subversive intentions. We have a collective responsibility. 

We need collective strategic doctrines based on threats, tasks and technological possibilities, the Commander went on to add. Therefore, he invited all countries to be partners of this vision. Whilst heading to this vision, he reminded, we are sure to encounter rough seas, shocks and setbacks. But we all will have to be resilient in absorbing the shocks and move ahead on the track, the Commander concluded.