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IORA Workshop on “Cooperation for Maritime Security” successfully concluded

A three-day Workshop on “Cooperation for Maritime Security” organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) concluded on 23 March.

The workshop provided an insightful analysis on IORA Member States to identify gaps between domestic legislation and United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The focal points of maritime safety and security of the IORA Member States, namely Australia, Bangladesh, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Yemen and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Coast Guard attended the event. Participants from Dialogue Partners of IORA, Germany, Italy, Japan and USA also joined the workshop virtually.

Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and President of the Australian Branch of the International Law Association Natalie Klein, Senior Research Fellow, Max Planck Foundation, Arron N. Honniball, Research Fellow, Max Planck Foundation, Egor S. Fedorov, Programme Support Officer, Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Asyura Salleh along with experts from Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Coast Guard conducted the session.  

The Workshop was held on the sideline of the 3rd Meeting of IORA Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security on 20 March 2023 inaugurated by Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane and attended by the Heads of Mission of IORA Member States and Dialogue Partner countries based in Colombo, Senior Officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Fisheries, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Merchant Shipping Secretariat, Disaster Management Center and Marine Environment Protection Authority, the UNODC, and officials of the Max Planck Foundation as well as representatives of the GIZ.