The Ministry of External Affairs, in conjunction with the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) is organizing a 2 day Workshop from 30th June to 1st July 2014 for Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) member States to discuss the modalities of establishing a Centre of Excellence on Ocean Sciences & Environment. This project gives effect to the vision outlined in the Mahinda Chinthana to promote Science & Technology and also to transform Sri Lanka into a regional knowledge hub.
External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L Peiris reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to host the Centre at the Meeting of the IORA Council of Ministers in Perth, Australia in November 2013. Sri Lanka’s offer has already been endorsed by the IORA member countries. The Workshop will discuss the scope, functions and the governance of the Centre and also focus on key areas of mutual interest such as ocean resources, bio-security, energy resources and climate change.
The proposed Centre envisions building scientific and technological capacity in ocean sciences research and sustainable collaborative utilization of ocean resources. It will support regional collaboration among Indian Ocean Rim countries and serve as a partnership for institutions that support scientific and socio-economic research in relation to the Indian Ocean region.
IORA, which was earlier known as the Indian Ocean Rim – Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) prior to 2013, is a group of 20 countries that border the Indian Ocean Rim, spanning three continents, Africa, Asia and Australia. Sri Lanka is a founder member of the organisation.
Ministry of External Affairs
Colombo
27 June 2014
