Commander Amila Prasanga, a Military Research Officer at the Institute of National Security Studies and a member of the Sri Lanka Navy, participated as an invitee panelist at the conference titled 'Ocean of Churn: Synergising Values Across the Indo-Pacific,' organized by the Council for Strategic and Defense Research (CSDR) in New Delhi, India. The conference was inaugurated by Ms. Paramita Tripathi, Joint Secretary - Indo-Pacific, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
During the panel discussion titled "Indo Pacific Sea Links: Opportunities and Challenges in Maritime Security and Cooperation," Cdr Prasanga emphasized the importance of maritime security and cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region. He highlighted the need for free movement, communication, cooperation, and security to address challenges and seize opportunities in the maritime domain. Sri Lanka's strategic position was underscored as pivotal in fostering cooperative relationships among nations utilizing maritime routes while managing environmental impacts and integrating developmental objectives. The importance of trust-building, advanced technologies, and human resources for successful collaboration was also emphasized.
The conference spanned two days and featured six panels where experts from the Indo-Pacific region discussed security, inclusivity, and development partnerships. Panelists included members of the diplomatic community from Indo-Pacific countries in India, representatives from defense sectors, leading academic institutions, and think tanks across the region.
