Coast Guards of India, Sri Lanka vow to strengthen maritime partnership

The eighth high-level meeting between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) was held in New Delhi on Monday (August 11, 2025) to strengthen the maritime partnership.

According to the Ministry of Defence, discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in marine pollution response, maritime search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, and expanding capacity building and technical assistance. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Director General Rear Admiral Y.R. Serasinghe, while the Indian side was headed by ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to address contemporary maritime challenges and promote safety, security, and environmental protection in their shared waters.

The meeting reinforced plans for deeper operational coordination, sharing of best practices, and sustained efforts towards regional maritime stability. The SLCG delegation is visiting India from August 10–14 for the talks and other professional exchanges under a 2018 Memorandum of Understanding between the two coast guards, said the Defence Ministry.

Separately, the 5th India–Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation was also held in New Delhi on Monday. Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Vishwesh Negi and Uzbekistan’s Head of the Central Department for International Military Cooperation, Col. Zafaron Tokhirov, led the delegations. Talks covered defence and industrial collaboration, training, capacity building, and exchange programmes.