Onboard INS Sumitra on Friday, the 33rd annual IMBL meeting between the Navies and Coast Guards of India and Sri Lanka took place at the Indo-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Line off Point Calimere in Palk Bay. The Navies and CGs of the two nations can further strengthen their ties and operational synergy through the engagement between their counterparts.
Commander of the North Central Naval Area (NCNA), RAdm BAKS Banagoda, of the Sri Lanka Navy, led the delegation from Sri Lanka. Radam Ravi Kumar Dhingra, Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area (FOTNA), led the Indian delegation.
Senior officers from both nations, as well as a representative from Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (East) and the Defence Advisor to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, took part.
Participants from the Navies and Coast Guard spoke about a variety of topics at the conference, including fishermen’s safety, ways to reduce the trafficking of illegal goods, and maritime security in the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar region. We also had a lengthy conversation about how to improve the current communication network and the prompt information sharing between the Coast Guard and the two Navies to support timely measures.
Both parties committed to implementing the agreements made to improve the marine security in the region and reiterated the need of working together during operations.
