Sri Lanka to host Heads of Foreign States at IORA in Oct.

COLOMBO (News 1st) -  Sri Lanka will assume the Chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for the period 2023 to 2025. 

IORA is a regional forum that brings together 23 countries in the Indian Ocean region. Its primary objective is to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region.

Sri Lanka is a founding member of IORA and has hosted the IORA Council of Ministers' Meeting once before, in 2003.

The 23rd Council of Ministers' Meeting of IORA will be held in Colombo in October 2023. The meeting will be attended by ministers from all 23 IORA member countries.

The meeting is expected to discuss a range of issues, including economic cooperation, trade and investment, maritime security, and climate change.

Foreign Minister Sabry said that Sri Lanka's foreign policy is "Sri Lanka first." He said that the country will work with all countries in the region, but will not take sides in any conflicts. "We will work towards making the Indian Ocean an independent zone of peace," Sabry said.

Sri Lanka is located in a strategic position in the Indian Ocean. The country is a major shipping hub and is also home to several important naval bases. The Foreign Minister added that they government wants to use Sri Lanka's location to become a trading hub, a naval hub, and an air transportation hub. The government has also said that it wants to work with all countries in the region, regardless of their political or economic affiliations.

The assumption of the Chairmanship of IORA by Sri Lanka is a significant development, as the country ascends into the role after 20 long years. The meeting is expected to be a major opportunity for Sri Lanka to showcase its capabilities and to promote its interests in the region.