By Asiri Fernando in The Daily Morning, Sept 15, 2023
Sri Lanka will discuss a “code of conduct” for the Indian Ocean at the upcoming 23rd Council of Ministers Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) scheduled to kick off on 11 October, Minister of Foreign Affairs President’s Counsel M.U.M. Ali Sabry said yesterday (14).

Sri Lanka is set to take up the chairpersonship of the Indian Ocean regional body for the second time in its 23-year history, for the 2023 to 2025 period.

According to Ali Sabry, Sri Lanka has proposed to host an IORA leaders’ summit next year (2024).

Addressing a press conference on the meeting, Ali Sabry said that Sri Lanka is committed to ensuring that the Indian Ocean region remains a zone of peace. Responding to a question, Ali Sabry downplayed the impact of the great power rivalry which is on the rise in the Indian Ocean region, stressing that Sri Lanka and the IORA seek the Indian Ocean to be open to all for trade and commerce while adhering to a rules-based order. However, he said that a rules-based order will only work if the goalposts are not continuously changed. He said that the IORA countries do not wish for great power rivalries to make the Indian Ocean turbulent.

When questioned about the possibility of the IORA becoming more inclusive with the addition of Pakistan, Ali Sabry said that the matter could be discussed if there was a formal application for membership from the Indian Ocean neighbour.

The IORA meeting will focus on its priority areas of maritime safety and security, trade and investment, disaster risk management, academia, science and cooperation, women’s empowerment, and the blue economy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary – Economic Affairs, Ocean Affairs, Environment, and Climate Change Shanika Dissanayake explained.

The IORA, which was established in 1997, has a membership of 23 countries, and a steadily growing list of dialogue partners which number 11 as of 2023. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 16 countries have confirmed high-level participation for the meeting next month.
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