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Indo-Sri Lanka IMBL talks conclude
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Mementos were exchanged at the conclusion of talks
The annual International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) meeting between the representatives of navies of India and Sri Lanka held onboard SLNS Sayurala at the Indo-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Line off Kankesanthurai was held on Friday.
The Sri Lankan delegation headed by Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Merril Wickramasinghe, also included Deputy Area Commander (North Central Naval Area) Commodore Sanath Uthpala, Director Naval Operations Commodore Sanjeewa Dias, Defence Advisor to Sri Lankan High Commission in India Captain Suresh De Silva and Deputy Director General Coast Guard, Commodore YMGB Jayathilaka.
The Indian delegation was headed by Flag Officer Tamil Nadu Area (FOTNA) Rear Admiral KJ Kumar. Defence Advisor to the High Commission of India in Colombo Captain Ashok Rao, and other distinguished guests from both countries also participated in the event. “The IMBL meeting is held to strengthen relationships and operational readiness between the navies and Coast Guard personnel of two neighbouring countries”, navy spokesman said in a statement. .
Matters related to optimisation of patrolling in Indian Ocean region by the Indian authorities, the education of Indian fishermen by Indian authorities on minimising illegal practices, establishing a proper communications network between both parties for minimizing of smuggling activities in the region and introduction of an information sharing mechanism between two countries were discussed at length.
Mementoes were exchanged to mark the significance of the occasion, the release added.
The SLNS Sayurala