India, Sri Lanka and Maldives have agreed on a roadmap to boost cooperation in maritime security.
India's National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon visited Colombo July 8-9 to participate in trilateral discussions with the two island nations to address the common maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean region.
Following the meeting on Monday, the three sides agreed on a roadmap for future cooperation in maritime security.
In this context, they signed an Outcome Document outlining further collaborative measures in the areas of maritime domain awareness (MDA); strengthening coordination of maritime Search and Rescue (SAR); promoting marine oil pollution response cooperation; expanding 'DOSTI' (friendship) exercises; sharing of information on illegal maritime activities; and piracy, a statement said in New Delhi.
The next NSA-Level trilateral meeting is to be held in New Delhi at a mutually convenient time, the statement said.
The Maldivian side was led by Defence and National Security Minister Mohamed Nazim, while the Sri Lanka side was led by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
