New Delhi (NVI): National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will be on a two-day visit to Colombo from tomorrow to participate in the fourth NSA level meeting on Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation, being hosted by Sri Lanka.
The trilateral meeting between India, SriLanka and Maldives will provide an opportunity for discussion on issues pertaining to cooperation in maritime security in the Indian Ocean region, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
The meeting, revived after 2014, will see the three countries exploring ways to enhance cooperation in the Indian Ocean, amid China’s growing assertiveness and unilateralism in the region.
Earlier meetings were held in 2011 in Maldives, in 2013 in Sri Lanka, and in 2014 in India, the MEA said. “The NSA-level Trilateral Meeting has served as an effective platform for cooperation among Indian Ocean countries. Mauritius and Seychelles attended the 3rd meeting as guest countries,” the Ministry added.
As per the ministry, NSA Doval will be visiting Colombo on the invitation of Sri Lankan Secretary of Ministry of Defence Maj Gen (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne. Apart from the Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka and Doval, Maldives Defence Minister Mariya Didi will also participate in the meeting.
The MEA said that NSA is also expected to have other high level bilateral engagements, on the sidelines of the trilateral meet.
-ARK
