India’s National Security Advisor(NSA) Ajit Doval visited Colombo, Sri Lanka for a two-day visit from November 27-28, 2020 to participate in the 4th NSA Level Meeting on Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation between India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The meeting was hosted by Sri Lanka. The meeting is held after 6 years.
- Dinesh Gunawardena, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka was the chief guest at the event.
Aim of the Meeting– To promote cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region, with focus on common issues related to maritime security.
Key People
- Along with him, Kamal Gunaratne, Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka and Mariya Didi, Defence Minister of Maldives participated.
- Foreign Secretary Admiral of Sri Lanka Prof. Jayanath Colombage also attended the event.
Deputy NSA level working group meetings to be held biannually
The countries decided to hold Deputy NSA level working group meetings biannually for cooperation at the operational level.
Highlights of the Meeting
i.Discussion was made on various issues of mutual concern including ways to enhance maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean.
ii.The 3 countries exchanged views on common security threats.
iii.They agreed to broad-base cooperation by expanding the scope to enhance intelligence sharing and to include issues like terrorism, radicalisation among others.
iv.Discussion was made on mutual cooperation in the areas of Maritime Domain Awareness, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Joint Exercises, Capacity Building, Maritime Security and Threats, Maritime Pollution, and Maritime Underwater Heritage
v.The countries agreed to further strengthen cooperation to tackle these challenges to ensure peace and security in the region.
NSA Ajit Doval holds bilateral talks with Maldivian Defence Minister
As part of the trilateral meeting, NSA Ajit Doval had a cordial and detailed discussion with Mariya Didi, Defence Minister of Maldives to deepen bilateral partnership with the key island nation in the Indian Ocean.
NSA Ajit Doval calls on Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
On November 28, 2020 NSA Doval called Gotabaya Rajapaksa, president of Sri Lankan and discussed on the ways to diversify and deepen the bilateral relationship.
Key Info:
NSA Ajit Doval on November 27, 2020 met Kamal Gunaratne. They agreed on many steps to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries.
About NSA level meeting on Maritime Security Cooperation:
Launched– Sri Lanka, India and Maldives launched the Trilateral Cooperation in Maritime Security in October 2011.
3 meetings- 1st meeting took place in October 2011 in Maldives, 2nd meeting took place in Colombo in July 2013 and third(last) in March 2014 in New Delhi, India.
Additional Info
This is NSA Ajit Doval’s 2nd visit to Sri Lanka.
He visited Colombo in the Island nation of Sri Lanka (SL) on January 18, 2020.
About National SecurityCouncil(NSC):
Established
The former prime minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 19 November 1998 established NSC.
National Security Advisor(NSA)
The National Security Advisor(NSA) presides over the NSC. The 1st NSA is Brajesh Mishra.
General Info
i.It is the apex body of the three-tiered structure of the national security management system in India.
ii.The three tiers are the Strategic Policy Group, the National Security Advisory Board and a secretariat from the Joint Intelligence Committee
iii.It is an executive government agency to advise the Prime Minister’s Office on matters of national security and strategic interest.
Recent Related News:
i.Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General MM Naravane and Foreign Secretary (FS) Harsh Vardhan Shringla concluded the two-day visit to Myanmar on October 4-5, 2020. India and Myanmar reviewed the progress made in bilateral relations in recent years by regular high-level visits and interactions.
ii.On October 6, 2020, External Affairs Minister (EAM)S. Jaishankar participated in the Second QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) held between India, Australia, Japan & United States of America (USA) in Tokyo, Japan. It was during his 2 day visit to Tokyo, Japan from October 6-7, 2020.
About Sri Lanka:
President – Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Capital – Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Currency – Sri Lankan Rupee
