15 February 2018 12:00 am
The first bi-lateral conference between the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) and National Maritime Foundation (NMF) of India focused on developing a platform for analytical and innovative discussion, specifically on maritime security and maritime domain awareness covering the Indian Ocean, which would favourably impact countries in the Indian Ocean Region held
Colombo Recently.
Admiral R.K. Dhowan with Directors of NMF, Admiral Jayanath Colombage, Director, Centre for Indo-Lanka Initiatives at PF with Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke and key resource personalities presented papers of the conference.
The rationale to engage in academic discourse on maritime security and MDA in the Indian Ocean was based on the need to develop a policy framework for the attention of policy makers in both the countries.
The first bilateral conference between the National Maritime Foundation and Pathfinder Foundation focused on developing a platform for analytical and innovative discussion, focusing specifically on maritime security and MDA covering the Indian Ocean, which would favourably impact on the countries in the IOR. The draft of a Code of Conduct for the Indian Ocean was also discussed during
this dialogue.
The NMF was represented by its Chairman Admiral RK Dhowan, the Director Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, the Executive Director Captain (Dr.) Gurpreet Khurana.
The Pathfinder delegation comprised its Chairman Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke, Senior Fellow Lalith Weeratunga, Admiral Dr. Jayanath Colombage, Luxman Siriwardene and Gayathri Nanayakkara.
The special invitees for this event were Admiral Jayanath Perera, General Daya Rathnayake and Major General Milinda Peiris. Barana Waidyatilleke of Lakshman Kadiragarmar Institute contributed with a paper titled ‘a small state’s Quest for Indian Ocean Security: The case of Sri Lanka.