Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha has emphasized the urgent need for the development of an overarching security architecture and institutional frameworks that address the security issues in the Indian Ocean Region. Referring to the Track 1.5 Conference ‘The Indian Ocean: Defining our Future’ hosted by Sri Lanka in October 2018, which is to graduate to a Ministerial level conference, he noted that it held the promise of contributing to the development of an international rules-based order, with established rules and principles, operating on a common understanding of the challenges and solutions in the Indian Ocean region. He added that the finalization of a Work Plan at the First Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) Maritime Safety and Security (MSS) Working Group chaired by Sri Lanka and held in Colombo in August 2019, would also allow Member states to facilitate practical coordination to ensure sustainable economic development.
The Foreign Secretary made these observations while delivering the Banquet Speech at the Galle Dialogue 2019, which brought together over 150 participants from 55 countries, heads of 12 international agencies and 3 defence industries, at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo on 21 October 2019. He commended the Sri Lanka Navy for organizing the two day event for the 10th successive year, and said that “this year’s theme ‘Refining Mindset to address Transnational Maritime threats: A Review of the Decade’, encourages deeper reflection. It acknowledges that not only have things around us changed, but that there is also a need for us to change the way we perceive them. It gives us the opportunity to re-energize, re-evaluate and re-calibrate, if needed, and to re-set the agenda for what is bound to be a critical decade ahead”.
Secretary Aryasinha also observed that “it is fitting that Sri Lanka, which, as early as in 1971 spearheaded the Indian Ocean Peace Zone (IOPZ) proposal at the UN and promoted the Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Cooperation (IOMAC) in 1985 - at a time when few recognized the importance of these concepts or supported these processes - continues to remain in the forefront in further efforts to ensure Freedom of Navigation and the safety and security of the Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) in the Indian Ocean. These are essential pre-requisites not only in maintaining regional security and stability, but also crucial for the future prosperity of the region”.
Detailing the changing dynamics in the Indian Ocean, he said that the region’s littoral states, home to 35% of the world’s population, accounted for 18.5% of global GDP in 2018. One of the world’s busiest and most critical trade corridors, carrying two-thirds of global oil shipments and a third of bulk cargo and hosting the most critical SLOCs, it directly impacts global trade and the economy. He added that despite challenges, compared to some maritime regions, the Indian Ocean region presently enjoys a relative calm, due to a commendable willingness to adhere to the rule of law and maintain freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean.
Addressing the threats faced by the region, he observed that “acts particularly by non-state actors engaged in human smuggling, drug trafficking, sea piracy and terrorism may be better tackled with a mechanism to monitor a wider area of our oceans and share that information with likeminded entities both local and foreign”. The Foreign Secretary went on to note that “while legal frameworks will lay the foundation in protection of the oceans, practical cooperation among countries is the first line of defense against various transnational maritime threats faced”. He also cautioned that “while activities of non-state actors no doubt continue to threaten the security of the Indian Ocean, State actors must share in the blame for the instability that sometimes complicate our dealings with regard to the oceans”.
In his speech, the Secretary called particular attention to the geopolitical and geostrategic framing of the Indian Ocean that is currently taking place. “In these framings”, he emphasized, “the inherent role of the Littoral States must be recognized: it is necessary for the countries geographically located in the region, to play the leading role in deciding the future of the Indian Ocean Region”.
Secretary Aryasinha called on policy makers and experts of the Indian Ocean Region “to adopt comprehensive and holistic approaches, which, while centrally serving respective national interests, factor within it all other individual country interests and key international commitments and obligations”. “In the geostrategic contestations that arise that are extraneous to us”, he stressed, “we must not be forced in to taking sides, but be allowed to work in collaboration with all, to reconcile competing interests”.
Full text of the Banquet Speech by Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha at the Galle Dialogue 2019;
Galle Dialogue 2019: “Refining Mindset to address Transnational Maritime threats: A Review of the Decade”
Secretary, Ministry of Defence
Chief of Defence Staff
Visiting Commanders
Commanders of the Sri Lanka Navy and the Air Force
Distinguished delegates and guests
It is an honour for me to be here with you tonight, and I thank Vice Admiral Piyal de Silva for inviting me to deliver the Banquet Speech.
At the outset, allow me to extend my warm congratulations to the Sri Lanka Navy for once again organizing this forum, bringing together 148 participants from 54 countries and 17 International Organizations to deliberate on the safety and security in navigating the oceans.
It is fitting that Sri Lanka, which, as early as in 1971 spearheaded the Indian Ocean Peace Zone (IOPZ) proposal at the UN and promoted the Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Cooperation (IOMAC) in 1985 - at a time when few recognized the importance of these concepts or supported these processes - continues to remain in the forefront in further efforts to ensure Freedom of Navigation and the safety and security of the Sea Lanes of Communication in the Indian Ocean. These are essential pre-requisites not only in maintaining regional security and stability, but also crucial for the future prosperity of the region.
Since its inception in 2010, the Galle Dialogue has provided a vibrant forum to all stakeholders to contribute, interact and exchange expertise for the common good of seafaring in a wide variety of ways that would further our national interests and our shared common goals, to make the seas safer for all.
This year’s theme ‘Refining Mindset to address Transnational Maritime threats: A Review of the Decade’, encourages deeper reflection. It acknowledges that not only have things around us changed, but that there is also a need for us to change the way we perceive them. It gives us the opportunity to re-energize, re-evaluate and re-calibrate, if needed, and to re-set the agenda for what is bound to be a critical decade ahead.
Dynamics of the Indian Ocean Region
As the changing themes of this annual forum and its increasing relevance have indicated, the past decade has been particularly dynamic for the Indian Ocean region: it is clearly a region in transition. Home to 35% of the world’s population, it is increasingly considered the world’s economic and political centre of gravity. It has some of the most strategic choke points and its sea lanes of communication carry goods, people, and energy. Our oceans are rich in fish, minerals, petroleum resources, bio diversity and natural ports. The significant growth of Asian economies has transformed this region into a major artery of the global economy over the last three decades. The region’s littoral states accounted for 18.5% of global GDP last year. One of the world’s busiest and most critical trade corridors - carrying two-thirds of global oil shipments and a third of bulk cargo and hosting the most critical Sea Lanes of Communication, it directly impacts global trade and the economy. Given this context, the security of this body of water is important not only to its littoral states, but for the entire global community.
Traditional and Non-traditional threats
As the global significance of the Indian Ocean region rises, this vital maritime space is confronted with traditional and non-traditional security threats.
The traditional threats, including piracy, military presence and competition in the maritime region that could shift the balance of power, have evolved significantly. The region has also seen an increased vulnerability that arises from the expansion in shipping and ports, a significant naval build up, many geopolitical shifts, as well as competing political-economic-strategic frameworks and doctrines emanating from various powers wishing to extend their reach in the region. These are compounded by the non-traditional threats we confront, including maritime terrorism, climate change, IUU fishing, illegal immigration, smuggling of arms & drugs and modern piracy. With the multitude of attendant challenges brought about by climate change – including direct implications on food security, forced displacement, loss of habitats and livelihoods resulting in unplanned mass migration – the ocean will continue to be a theatre of action. As populations and economies continue to grow, we should anticipate that future challenges may arise over dwindling resources.
Addressing these complex threats effectively in a seemingly ungovernable expanse of the earth - the oceans - is indeed a mammoth task, which all littoral states must address collectively. Without consistently re-tuning our approaches and mindsets to meet the new, emerging and ever-evolving challenges, this task would seem all the more arduous.
The Indian Ocean region’s response
Despite these challenges, compared to some maritime regions, the Indian Ocean region enjoys a relative calm. There has been willingness to adhere to the rule of law and maintain freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean. We can be also pleased that the region has continued to choose cooperation over conflict in the maritime domain, and disputes have been resolved through dialogue and adherence to international rules and norms, if one is to go by the several arbitration cases emanating from the region that have seen resolution in recent years. The rules-based order and dispute resolution mechanisms introduced by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other international arrangements have contributed to this calm.
Nevertheless, vigilance is needed. We continue to be confronted by numerous risks and challenges. Transnational Maritime threats are foremost among these. In order to effectively deal with transnational maritime threats, greater maritime visibility is needed through data and information sharing arrangements. Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) needs to be improved. This would assist countries to identify priority areas and the related technological innovation required.
Acts, particularly by non-state actors engaged in human smuggling, drug trafficking, sea piracy and terrorism may be better tackled with a mechanism to monitor a wider area of our oceans and share that information with likeminded entities both local and foreign. Combating piracy in the Indian Ocean is a case in point, where several initiatives that complement and support each other have been put in place. The several mechanisms that have been developed following successful meetings in this regard demonstrate the potential synergies that exist and illustrate the benefits of cooperation on maritime security and governance issues. The instruments range from soft law, non-binding approaches to hard law, legally binding treaty approaches on the one hand and practical cooperation efforts on the other. A great deal of work therefore has already been done. There are important lessons and experiences to draw from for the region.
Building an overarching architecture in the region
Even as we understand the problems, the absence of an overarching security architecture and institutional frameworks that address security issues of the region remains a serious drawback. Maritime security issues and challenges have not received proportionate attention in any of the existing Indian Ocean regional organizations.
While the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) stand out as two of the more prominent organizations that also deal with maritime issues in the region, their focus remains largely within the parameters of economic cooperation. However, in this context, we must welcome the finalization of a Work Plan by the First Meeting of IORA Maritime Safety and Security (MSS) Working Group chaired by Sri Lanka and held in Colombo on 8-9 August 2019 with the participation of 22 foreign delegates representing IORA member countries and representatives of the IORA Secretariat. We hope that this would allow IORA Member states to facilitate practical coordination with stakeholders to ensure sustainable economic development for all in a peaceful, safe and secure Indian Ocean. I am confident that the 19th IORA Council of Ministers’ Meeting in November in Abu Dhabi will build upon this Work Plan to ensure greater prosperity and security to our region.
Towards the goal of creating a possible overarching architecture for the region, Sri Lanka hosted the Track 1.5 Conference ‘The Indian Ocean: Defining our Future’ on 11-12 October 2018, with the participation of 300 senior government officials and think tank representatives from over 40 Indian Ocean littoral states and major maritime users. In his message to the Conference, President Maithripala Sirisena called on the forum of littoral states and the extra-regional maritime users to assist in preserving the essential characteristics of an open, free, fair and peaceful Indian Ocean. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was to impress on the gathering, that what is required is a shared understanding that benefits all, and addresses two core, interconnected issues related to the Indian Ocean: Freedom of Navigation and Freedom of Digital Connectivity.
The expectation is that the momentum created by the Track 1.5 Conference would graduate to a Ministerial level conference and contribute to the development of an international rules-based order, where there are established rules and principles, which operate on a common understanding of challenges and solutions in the Indian Ocean region.
Need for collective, practical solutions
However, while legal frameworks will lay the foundation in protection of the oceans, practical cooperation among countries is the first line of defense against various transnational maritime threats faced. In this context, I was struck by the Navy Commander’s comment this morning, that countries must get-together to find solutions beyond the legal intervention in the high seas, and that token joint naval exercises are no longer adequate.
We have hundreds of agencies among our nations who work on different areas in securing our oceans and coasts. They have information and technical expertise in specific areas. However, coordination among these entities has considerable room for improvement. Common information sharing mechanisms need to be developed at regional and global levels in order to encourage data sharing on the maritime domain. Whilst technology plays a critical role in preserving maritime security, it is also important for countries to compile and share information and analysis on maritime incidents and trends. Given the fact that many countries may not have adequate funding to invest in sophisticated monitoring mechanisms, regular exchange of data and analysis may be able to bridge the technology gap to a certain extent.
Policy response
It is evident that the maritime space of the Indian Ocean works on the basis of mutual dependency. This dependency promotes Freedom of Navigation and the safety and security of the Sea Lanes of Communication. In the face of challenges to safety and security we have seen how well littorals and extra regional partners have worked together.
However, it must be noted here that particular attention should be paid to the geopolitical and geostrategic framing of the Indian Ocean that is currently taking place. In these framings, the inherent role of the littorals must be recognized. It is necessary for the countries geographically located in this region, to play the leading role in deciding the future of the region.
We must keep in mind that while activities of Non State actors no doubt continue to threaten the security of the Indian Ocean, State actors must share in the blame for the instability that sometimes complicate our dealings with regard to the oceans.
In responding to these maritime issues confronting the Indian Ocean Region, it is necessary that policy makers and experts of the region adopt comprehensive and holistic approaches, which, while centrally serving our respective national interests, factor within it all other individual country interests and key international commitments and obligations. In the geostrategic contestations that arise that are extraneous to us, we must not be forced in to taking sides, but be allowed to work in collaboration with all, to reconcile competing interests.
I believe, this is true for Sri Lanka, as much as it is for any other Indian Ocean country.
I thank you.
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මාධ්ය නිවේදනය
ඉන්දියානු සාගර කලාපයේ සියල්ල ඇතුළත් වන ආරක්ෂක ව්යුහයක් උදෙසා ශ්රී ලංකාවේ ඇප කැපවීම විදේශ ලේකම් ආර්යසිංහ මහතා අවධාරණය කරයි.
ඉන්දියානු සාගර කළාපයේ ආරක්ෂක ගැටලුවලට විසඳුම් ලබා දෙන සියල්ල ඇතුළත් ආරක්ෂක ව්යුහයක් හා ආයතනික රාමු සංවර්ධනය කිරීම වහ වහා සිදු කිරීමේ අවශ්යතාවක් පවතින බව විදේශ ලේකම් රවිනාථ ආර්යසිංහ මහතා අවධාරණය කර තිබේ. 2018 ඔක්තෝබර් මස ශ්රී ලංකාවේ සත්කාරකත්වයෙන් "ඉන්දියානු සාගරය: අපගේ අනාගතය අරුත් දක්වයි" යන තේමාව යටතේ පැවති අමාත්ය මට්ටමේ සමුළුවක් ලෙස දියුණු කළ යුතු වන ට්රැක් 1.5 සමුළුව පිළිබඳව සඳහන් කරමින්, ඉන්දියානු සාගර කලාපයේ අභියෝග හා විසඳුම් පිළිබඳව පොදු අවබෝධයක් මත මෙහෙයවෙන, ස්ථාපනය කරන ලද නීතිරිති හා මූලධර්ම සහිතව ජාත්යන්තර නීතිරිති පදනම්කර ගත් සාමයක් උදාකිරීම සඳහා දායකත්වය ලබා දීමේ ප්රතිඥාව එමඟින් ලබා දුන් බව ඔහු සඳහන් කළේය. 2019 අගෝස්තු මාසයේ කොළඹ දී පැවති ශ්රී ලංකාව විසින් සභාපතීත්වය උසුලන ලද කලාපීය සහයෝගීතාව සඳහා ඉන්දියානු සාගර වටද්දර රටවල සංගමයේ (IOR-ARC) සාමුද්රීය සුරක්ෂිතභාවය හා ආරක්ෂාව (MSS) පිළිබඳ ක්රියාකාරී කණ්ඩායමේ පළමු රැස්වීමේ දී කාර්ය සැලැස්මක කටයුතු අවසන් කිරීම මඟින් ද, තිරසර ආර්ථික සංවර්ධනය තහවුරු කිරීම සඳහා ප්රායෝගිකව සම්බන්ධීකරණ කටයුතු සිදු කිරීම උදෙසා පහසුකම් සැලසීමට සාමාජික රටවලට ඉඩකඩ ලබා දෙන බව ඔහු තවදුරටත් ප්රකාශ කළේය.
විදේශ ලේකම්වරයා මෙසේ ප්රකාශ කරන ලද්දේ, 2019 ඔක්තෝබර් 21 වැනි දින කොළඹ ගෝල්ෆේස් හෝටලයේ දී පැවති 2019 ගාලු සංවාදයේ විශේෂ භෝජන සංග්රහ දේශනය පවත්වමිනි. මෙම ගාලු සංවාදය මඟින්, රටවල් 55කින් නියෝජිතයින් 150කට අධික පිරිසක් හා ජාත්යන්තර නියෝජිතායතන 12ක හා ආරක්ෂක ව්යාපාර 3ක නායකයන් ඒකරාශී කරන ලදී. අනුයාත 10 වැනි වසර සඳහා දෙදින වැඩසටහනක් සංවිධානය කිරීම වෙනුවෙන් ශ්රී ලංකා නාවික හමුදාවට ප්රශංසාව පුද කළ ඔහු, මෙම වසරේ තේමාව වන "දේශ සීමා ඉක්මවා සිදු කරන සමුද්රීය තර්ජනවලට විසඳුම් ලබා දීම සඳහා මනස සකස් කර ගැනීම: දශකයේ සමාලෝචනයක්" මඟින් ගැඹුරු ප්රත්යාවේක්ෂණයක් සඳහා දිරිගන්වන බව ප්රකාශ කළේය. අප වටා ඇති දෑ වෙනස් වී ඇති බව පමණක් නොව ඒවා අප ග්රහණය කරගන්නා ආකාරය වෙනස් කිරීමේ ද අවශ්යතාවක් පවතින බව එමඟින් ඒත්තු ගන්වයි. අවශ්ය නම්, යළි ජව සම්පන්න කිරීම, නැවත ඇගයීම හා නැවත ශෝධනය කිරීම සහ ඉදිරි තීරණාත්මක දශකයක් හා බැඳී පවතින දෑ සඳහා න්යාය පත්රය නැවත සැකසීමට ඉඩ ප්රස්ථාව එමඟින් ලබා දෙයි.
1971 තරම් බොහෝ කලකට පෙර එක්සත් ජාතීන්ගේ සංවිධානයේ දී ඉදිරිපත් කළ ඉන්දියානු සාගර සාම කළාප (IOPZ) යෝජනාව සම්බන්ධයෙන් පෙරමුණ ගෙන කටයුතු කළ හා ඉතා සුළු පිරිසක් විසින් සමුද්රීය කටයුතු සහයෝගීතාව (IOMAC) වැනි සංකල්පවල වැදගත්කම හඳුනාගෙන මෙම ක්රියාවලිය සඳහා සහය ලබා දුන් අවධියක් වූ, 1985 වසරේ දී, ඉන්දියානු සාගර සමුද්රීය කටයුතු සහයෝගීතාව ප්රවර්ධනය කළ ශ්රී ලංකාව, ඉන්දියානු සාගරයේ යාත්රණ නිදහස හා සන්නිවේදන මුහුදු මාර්ගවල (SLOCs) සුරක්ෂිතභාවය හා ආරක්ෂාව තහවුරු කිරීමේ ඉදිරි ප්රයත්නවල දී පෙරමුණ ගෙන කටයුතු කරයි. මේවා කලාපීය සුරක්ෂිතභාවය හා ස්ථායීතාව පවත්වා ගැනීමේ දී පමණක් නොව කලාපයේ අනාගත සමෘද්ධිය උදෙසා ද අත්යවශ්ය වන පූර්ව අවශ්යතා වේ.
ඉන්දියානු සාගරයේ වෙනස්වන ගතිකතාවයන් පිළිබඳව විස්තර කරමින් ඔහු කියා සිටියේ, කලාපයේ ලෝක ජනගහනයෙන් 35% ක් වාසය කරන වෙරළාසන්න රාජ්යයන් මඟින් 2018 වසරේ දී ගෝලීය දළ දේශීය නිෂ්පාදිතයෙන් 18.5% ක් සඳහා වගකියන බවයි. ගෝලීය තෙල් නැව්ගත කිරීම්වලින් තුනෙන් දෙකක් සහ නැව් භාණ්ඩ තොගවලින් තුනෙන් එකක් එහාමෙහා ගෙනයන ලෝකයේ වඩාත්ම කාර්යබහුල හා ඉතා වැදගත් වෙළඳ කොරිඩෝවක් මෙන්ම, වඩාත්ම තීරණාත්මක මුහුදු සන්නිවේදන මාර්ග සඳහා සත්කාරකත්වය සපයමින් එය ගෝලීය වෙළඳාම හා ආර්ථිකය කෙරෙහි සෘජුවම බලපායි. නීතියේ ආධිපත්යයට අනුකූලව කටයුතු කිරීමට හා ඉන්දියානු සාගරයේ යාත්රණය කිරීමේ නිදහස පවත්වා ගැනීම සඳහා ඇති ප්රශංසනීය කැමැත්ත හේතුකොට ගෙන, වෙනත් සමහර සමුද්රීය කලාප හා සසඳන විට ඉන්දියානු සාගර කලාපය සාපේක්ෂ වශයෙන් සන්සුන්ව පවතින බව ද ඔහු තවදුරටත් පැවසීය.
කලාපය මුහුණ දී ඇති තර්ජන පිළිබඳව අදහස් දක්වමින්, “අපගේ සාගරයේ පුළුල් ප්රදේශයක් නිරීක්ෂණය කිරීමට සහ සමාන අදහස් දරන දේශීය හා විදේශීය ආයතන සමඟ එම තොරතුරු බෙදා ගැනීම සඳහා වූ යාන්ත්රණයක් මඟින්, විශේෂයෙන් මිනිස් ජාවාරම, මත්ද්රව්ය ජාවාරම, මුහුදු කොල්ලකෑම් සහ ත්රස්තවාදය යන අංශවල නියැලී සිටින රාජ්ය නොවන ක්රියාකාරීන්ගේ කටයුතු සම්බන්ධයෙන් වඩා හොඳින් කටයුතු කළ හැකි බව” ඔහු කියා සිටියේය. විදේශ ලේකම්වරයා තවදුරටත් සඳහන් කළේ, “නෛතික රාමු මගින් සාගර ආරක්ෂා කිරීම සඳහා වූ පදනම ඇති කෙරෙන අතර, දේශසීමා ඉක්මවමින් සිදුකරන විවිධ සමුද්රීය තර්ජනයන්ගෙන් ආරක්ෂා වීමේ පළමු මාර්ගය වන්නේ රටවල් අතර ප්රායෝගික සහයෝගීතාවය බව” යි. “රාජ්ය නොවන ක්රියාකාරීන්ගේ ක්රියාකාරකම් නිසැකවම ඉන්දියානු සාගරයේ ආරක්ෂාවට අඛණ්ඩව තර්ජනයක් වන අතර, සමහර අවස්ථාවල දී සාගර සම්බන්ධයෙන් වන අපගේ කටයුතු සංකීර්ණ බවට පත් කරන අස්ථායීතාව සම්බන්ධයෙන් රාජ්ය අංශයේ ක්රියාකාරීන්ට ද දොස් නැඟිය යුතුය” යනුවෙන් ඔහු අනතුරු ඇඟවීය.
ඉන්දියානු සාගරයේ දැනට සිදුවෙමින් පවතින භූදේශපාලනික හා භූ උපාය මාර්ගික රාමුකරණය පිළිබඳව ලේකම්වරයා සිය කථාවේ දී විශේෂ අවධානයක් යොමු කළේ ය. “මෙම රාමුකරණයේ දී, වෙරළාසන්න රාජ්යයන්ට ආවේනික වූ භූමිකාව හඳුනාගත යුතුය: භූගෝලීය වශයෙන් කලාපය තුළ පිහිටා ඇති රටවලට, ඉන්දියානු සාගර කලාපයේ අනාගතය තීරණය කිරීමේ දී ප්රමුඛ කාර්යභාරයක් ඉටු කිරීම අත්යවශ්ය වේ” යයි ඔහු අවධාරණය කළේය.
“ජාතික අවශ්යතා කේන්ද්රීයව සපුරාලන අතරම, අනෙකුත් සියලුම එක් එක් රටවල අවශ්යතා සහ ප්රධාන ජාත්යන්තර වගකීම් හා බැඳීම් අඩංගු වන පුළුල් හා පරිපූර්ණ ප්රවේශයන් අනුගමනය කරන ලෙස” ලේකම් ආර්යසිංහ මහතා ඉන්දියානු සාගර කලාපයේ ප්රතිපත්ති සම්පාදකයින්ගෙන් සහ විශේෂඥයින්ගෙන් ඉල්ලා සිටියේය. “අපට බාහිරයෙන් පැන නගින භූ-උපායමාර්ගික තරඟවල දී පක්ෂග්රාහී වීම සඳහා අපට බල නොකළ යුතු අතර, තරඟකාරී අවශ්යතා සමථයකට පත් කිරීම සඳහා සියලු දෙනා සමඟ සහයෝගයෙන් කටයුතු කිරීමට අපට ඉඩ දිය යුතුය” යනුවෙන් ඔහු අවධාරණය කළේය.
இந்து சமுத்திர பிராந்தியத்தில் பாதுகாப்புக் கட்டமைப்பை மேம்படுத்துவதற்கான இலங்கையின் உறுதிப்பாட்டை வெளிவிவகார செயலாளர் ஆரியசிங்க வலியுறுத்தினார்
இந்து சமுத்திர பிராந்தியத்தில் பாதுகாப்புப் பிரச்சினைகளை நிவர்த்தி செய்யும் பாதுகாப்புக் கட்டமைப்பையும் நிறுவனக் கட்டமைப்பையும் மேம்படுத்துவதற்கான அவசரத் தேவையை வெளிவிவகார செயலாளர் ரவிநாத ஆரியசிங்க வலியுறுத்தியுள்ளார். அமைச்சர்கள் மட்ட மாநாட்டிற்கு தகைமை பெறவிருக்கும் இலங்கை, 2018 அக்டோபரில் நடாத்திய 'இந்து சமுத்திரம்: எமது எதிர்காலத்தை வரையறுத்தல்' தடம் 1.5 மாநாட்டில், இந்து சமுத்திர பிராந்தியத்தில் உள்ள சவால்கள் மற்றும் தீர்வுகள் குறித்த பொதுவான புரிதலை இயக்கும் நிறுவப்பட்ட விதிகள் மற்றும் கொள்கைகளுடன், சர்வதேச விதிகளின் வளர்ச்சிக்கு பங்களிக்கும் உறுதிமொழியொன்றைக் கொண்டுள்ளது எனக் குறிப்பிட்டார். இலங்கையின் தலைமையில் 2019 ஆகஸ்ட் மாதத்தில் கொழும்பில் நடைபெற்ற பிராந்திய ஒத்துழைப்புக்கான இந்து சமுத்திர விளிம்பு சங்கத்தின் கடல்சார் காவல் மற்றும் பாதுகாப்பு செயற்குழுவின் முதலாவது கூட்டத்தின் போது, வேலைத் திட்டமொன்றை இறுதி செய்வது, நிலையான பொருளாதார வளர்ச்சியை உறுதிப்படுத்துவதற்காக நடைமுறை ஒருங்கிணைப்பை எளிதாக்குவதற்கு உறுப்பு நாடுகளுக்கு உதவும் என அவர் மேலும் தெரிவித்தார்.
55 நாடுகளைச் சேர்ந்த 150 க்கும் மேற்பட்ட பங்கேற்பாளர்கள், 12 சர்வதேச நிறுவனங்களின் தலைவர்கள் மற்றும் 3 பாதுகாப்புத் தொழில்துறைகளை ஒன்றிணைத்த, 21 அக்டோபர் 2019 அன்று கொழும்பு கோல்பேஸ் ஹோட்டலில் நடைபெற்ற காலி உரையாடல் 2019 இல் வெளிவிவகார செயலாளர் இந்த அவதானிப்புகளை மேற்கொண்டார். தொடர்ச்சியாக 10 வது ஆண்டாக இந்த இரண்டு நாள் நிகழ்வை ஏற்பாடு செய்தமைக்காக இலங்கை கடற்படைக்கு பாராட்டுகளை தெரிவித்த அவர், 'நாடுகடந்த கடல்சார் அச்சுறுத்தல்களை நிவர்த்தி செய்வதற்கான மனநிலையை சுத்தப்படுத்துதல்: தசாப்தத்தின் மீளாய்வு' என்ற இந்த ஆண்டின் கருப்பொருளானது ஆழமான பிரதிபலிப்பை ஊக்குவிக்கின்றது. எம்மைச் சூழவுள்ள விடயங்கள் மாற்றமடைந்திருப்பது மட்டுமல்லாமல், அவற்றை நாம் உணரும் விதத்தையும் மாற்ற வேண்டிய அவசியமும் உள்ளது என்பதை அது ஒப்புக்கொள்கின்றது. தேவைப்பட்டால், மீண்டும் உற்சாகப்படுத்துவதற்கும், மீள் மதிப்பீடு செய்வதற்கும், மீள் அளவீடு செய்வதற்கும், ஒரு முக்கியமான தசாப்தமாக இருக்க அமைவதற்கான நிகழ்ச்சி நிரலை மீண்டும் அமைப்பதற்கும் இது எமக்கு வாய்ப்பளிக்கின்றது' எனத் தெரிவித்தார்.
செயலாளர் ஆரியசிங்க மேலும் கூறுகையில், '1971 ஆம் ஆண்டிலேயே ஐ.நா. வில் இந்து சமுத்திர அமைதி வலயம் தொடர்பான திட்டத்தை முன்னெடுத்துச் சென்றதும், 1985 ஆம் ஆண்டில் இந்து சமுத்திர கடல் விவகார ஒத்துழைப்பை ஊக்குவித்ததுமான இலங்கை, அதனை இந்த கருத்துகளின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை சிலர் மாத்திரமே உணர்ந்திருந்த அல்லது இந்த நடைமுறைகளுக்கு ஆதரவுகளை வழங்கிய தருணத்தில் மேற்கொண்டிருந்ததுடன், கடற்பயணங்களுக்கான சுதந்திரம் மற்றும் இந்து சமுத்திரத்தில் உள்ள கடல் வழித்தடங்களின் காவல் மற்றும் பாதுகாப்பை உறுதி செய்வதற்கான மேலதிக முயற்சிகளில் தொடர்ந்தும் முன்னணியில் உள்ளது. இவை பிராந்திய பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் ஸ்திரத்தன்மையை பராமரிப்பதில் மட்டுமல்லாமல், பிராந்தியத்தின் எதிர்கால செழிப்புக்கும் இன்றியமையாத முன்நிபந்தனைகளாகும்' எனக் குறிப்பிட்டார்.
இந்து சமுத்திரத்தில் மாற்றமடைந்து வரும் இயக்கவியல் குறித்து விவரித்த அவர், உலக மக்கள் தொகையில் 35% வசிக்கும் பிராந்தியத்தின் கரையோர நாடுகள் 2018 ஆம் ஆண்டில் உலக மொத்த உள்நாட்டு உற்பத்தியில் 18.5% ஆக இருந்தன. மூன்றில் இரண்டு பங்கு உலகளாவிய எண்ணெய் ஏற்றுமதியையும், மூன்றில் ஒரு பங்கு மொத்த சரக்குகளையும் கொண்டு செல்வதும், மிக முக்கியமான கடல் வழித்தடங்களை வழங்குவதுமான உலகின் பரபரப்பான மற்றும் மிக முக்கியமான வர்த்தக தாழ்வாரங்களில் ஒன்றாகிய இது, உலகளாவிய வர்த்தகம் மற்றும் பொருளாதாரத்தை நேரடியாக பாதிக்கின்றது. சட்டத்தின் ஆட்சியைக் கடைப்பிடிப்பதற்கும், இந்து சமுத்திரத்தில் கடற்பயணங்களுக்கான சுதந்திரத்தைப் பேணுவதற்கும் பாராட்டத்தக்க விருப்பத்தைக் கொண்டிருப்பதனால், சவால்களுக்கு மத்தியிலும், சில கடல் பிராந்தியங்களுடன் ஒப்பிடுகையில், இந்து சமுத்திரப் பிராந்தியம் தற்போது ஒரு அமைதியான நிலையை அனுபவித்து வருகின்றது என அவர் மேலும் தெரிவித்தார்.
பிராந்தியத்தால் எதிர்கொள்ளப்படும் அச்சுறுத்தல்களைப் பற்றி உரையாற்றுகையில், 'குறிப்பாக ஆட்கடத்தல், போதைப்பொருள் கடத்தல், கடற்கொள்ளை மற்றும் பயங்கரவாதம் ஆகியவற்றில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ள அரசு சாராத செயற்பாட்டாளர்களின் செயல்களை, எமது சமுத்திரங்களின் பரந்த பகுதியைக் கண்காணிக்கவும், ஒத்த எண்ணங்களையுடைய உள்நாட்டு மற்றும் வெளிநாட்டு அமைப்புக்களுடன் அந்தத் தகவலைப் பகிர்ந்து கொள்ளவும் ஏதுவான ஒரு பொறிமுறையினால் சிறப்பாகக் கையாளப்படலாம்' என வெளிவிவகார செயலாளர் குறிப்பிட்டார். 'சட்டக் கட்டமைப்புகள் கடல்களைப் பாதுகாப்பதற்கான அடித்தளத்தை அமைக்கும் அதே வேளையில், நாடுகளிடையே நடைமுறை ஒத்துழைப்பு என்பது பல்வேறு நாடுகடந்த கடல்சார் அச்சுறுத்தல்களுக்கு எதிரான பாதுகாப்பின் முதல் வரியாகும்' என வெளிவிவகார செயலாளர் மேலும் சுட்டிக்காட்டினார். 'அரசு சாராத செயற்பாட்டளர்களின் நடவடிக்கைகள் தொடர்ந்து இந்து சமுத்திரத்தின் பாதுகாப்பை அச்சுறுத்தும் என்பதில் சந்தேகமில்லை, சமுத்திரங்கள் தொடர்பாக சில சமயங்களில் எமது நடவடிக்கைகளை சிக்கலாக்கும் உறுதியற்ற தன்மைக்கு அரச செயற்பாட்டாளர்கள் பொறுப்பேற்க வேண்டும்' எனவும் அவர் எச்சரித்தார்.
செயலாளர் தனது உரையில், 'தற்போது நடைபெற்று வரும் இந்து சமுத்திரத்தின் புவிசார் அரசியல் மற்றும் புவிசார் மூலோபாய கட்டமைப்பிற்கு குறிப்பாக கவனம் செலுத்துவதற்கு அழைப்பு விடுத்தார். 'இந்த கட்டமைப்புகளில்', 'கரையோர நாடுகளின் உள்ளார்ந்த வகிபாகத்தினை அங்கீகரித்தல் வேண்டும்: பிராந்தியத்தில் புவியியல் ரீதியாக அமைந்துள்ள நாடுகள் இந்து சமுத்திர பிராந்தியத்தின் எதிர்காலத்தை தீர்மானிப்பதில் முக்கிய பங்கு வகிக்க வேண்டியது அவசியமாகும்' என அவர் வலியுறுத்தினார்'.
செயலாளர் ஆரியசிங்க, 'அந்தந்த தேசிய நலன்களையும், ஏனைய அனைத்து தனிப்பட்ட நாட்டு நலன்களையும், அடிப்படை சர்வதேச ஈடுபாடுகளையும், கடமைகளையும் மையமாகக் கொண்டு சேவை செய்யும் அதே வேளையில், விரிவான மற்றும் முழுமையான அணுகுமுறைகளைப் பின்பற்றுமாறு' இந்து சமுத்திர பிராந்தியத்தின் கொள்கை வகுப்பாளர்கள் மற்றும் நிபுணர்களுக்கு அழைப்பு விடுத்தார். 'எமக்கு புறம்பானதாக எழும் புவிசார் மூலோபாய போட்டிகளில்', 'குறித்த தரப்பினரை சார்வதற்கு நாம் கட்டாயப்படுத்தப்படக்கூடாது, மாறாக அனைவருடனும் இணைந்து செயற்படவும், போட்டியிடும் நலன்களை சரிசெய்யவும் அனுமதிக்கப்பட வேண்டும்' என அவர் வலியுறுத்தினார்.
