Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism, Vijitha Herath successfully concluded his visit to the 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC), held from 16 to 17 February 2025 in Muscat, Oman. The conference, organized by the India Foundation in collaboration with the Government of Oman, centered on the theme "Voyages to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership".
Addressing the gathering at Plenary Session 1, the Minister stated "Sri Lanka’s vision for the Indian Ocean is one of shared destiny—where nations rise above rivalry to protect freedom of navigation and foster stable and sustainable prosperity based on cooperation, and find peaceful solutions to all issues".
During his two-day visit, the Minister engaged in productive bilateral discussions aimed at strengthening relations between Sri Lanka and Oman, as well as exploring avenues for enhanced collaboration among Indian Ocean nations on key regional maritime issues and bilateral cooperation.
As part of his engagements, the Foreign Minister held high-level bilateral meetings with Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi and Advisor for Foreign Trade and International Cooperation in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, Sultanate of Oman, Pankaj Khimji. Discussions focused on deepening engagement between Sri Lanka and Oman, fostering economic ties, and advancing cooperation in trade, investment, and maritime affairs.
On the sidelines of the conference, Foreign Minister Herath also held bilateral discussions with several of his regional counterparts including Minister of External Affairs of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar; Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Bhutan, D. N. Dhungyel; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Arzu Rana Deuba; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of Mauritius, Dhananjay Ramful and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei, Dato Erywan Yusof. The discussions centered on enhancing diplomatic and economic cooperation.
Additionally, Minister Herath held discussions with Heads of delegations from France, the United Kingdom, the Secretary-General of BIMSTEC, and the Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva.
During his visit, the Minister also paid a visit to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat and had a productive meeting with the Sri Lankan expatriate community in Muscat.
Undertaking his first official visit since assuming his duties as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Minister Herath achieved a significant milestone in strengthening Sri Lanka’s diplomatic and economic ties in the Indian Ocean region. His engagements reinforced bilateral relations with Oman and other participating nations while providing a vital platform to establish the new government's strategic vision for the maritime sector highlighting Sri Lanka’s proactive approach to enhancing international partnerships in trade, investment, and security within the Indian Ocean region.
The delegation to IOC also included Director General, Ocean Affairs, Environment & Climate Change of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Rizvi Hassen; Chargé d’ Affaires (a.i) of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat, Anodya Chirasrie and Counsellor (Employment & Welfare), Hemantha Wijeratne.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Muscat
19 February 2025
