The first Deputy National Security Adviser level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave was hosted virtually on 4 August 2021 by Sri Lanka under the Chairmanship of General LHSC Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of Army of Sri Lanka and the participation of Mr. Pankaj Saran, Deputy National Security Adviser of India and Ms. Aishath Nooshin Waheed, Secretary, National Security Adviser’s Office at the President’s Office of Maldives , High Commission of India in Colombo said in a press release.
Bangladesh, Mauritius and Seychelles participated as Observers and were represented by Lt. Gen. Waker Uz Zaman, Principal Staff Officer to Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh Army, Mrs. Pusmawatee Sohun, Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, Mauritius, and Colonel Micheal Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces, Seychelles People’s Force.
The decision to establish Colombo Security Conclave was established in November 2020 at the NSA-level meeting of India, Sri Lanka and Maldives to forge closer cooperation on maritime and security matters among the three Indian Ocean countries.
The Deputy NSA level meeting held on 4 August 2021 was a follow up to the decisions taken at the NSA level meeting under the expanded format of the Colombo Security Conclave.
The Deputy NSA level meeting identified four pillars of cooperation under the Colombo Security Conclave, namely, Marine Safety and Security, Terrorism and Radicalization, Trafficking and Organised Crime and Cyber security. It discussed specific proposals for cooperation and each of these pillars including holding regular interaction, joint exercises, capacity building and training activities. All participants stressed the vital role of cooperation and coordination in dealing with contemporary security challenges in the region, as well as capacity and capability enhancement among themselves, in keeping with the spirit of regional cooperation.
The meeting was marked by convergence of views on common security threats and was held in a warm, positive and forward looking manner.