• The High Commissioner  highlighted the importance  of regional and global partners coming together in finding lasting  solutions to issues in our maritime domain

Sri Lankan High Commissioner in New Delhi Milinda Moragoda attended the ceremonial induction of the first International Liaison Officer appointed from Sri Lanka to the New Delhi based Information Fusion Center for Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), a statement said.  

The High Commissioner presented a memento to Rear Admiral K.M. Ramakrishnan symbolizing the 80th anniversary of the appointment of Sir D.B. Jayatilaka as the first representative of the then Government of Ceylon at the event held at the IFC-IOR Centre.  

Lieutenant Commander Indika Wijesinghe (Sri Lanka Navy), the first International Liaison Officer (ILO) from Sri Lanka was ceremonially inducted into the IFC-IOR in the presence of the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Cyber Security and Network Centric Operations) Rear Admiral K.M. Ramakrishnan, the Director IFC-IOR Captain Soumyajit Mohanty and the ILOs representing Australia, France, Japan, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the U.S.  

The High Commissioner delivering his remarks, highlighted the importance of regional and global partners coming together in finding lasting solutions to issues in our maritime domain through enhanced cooperation, and by way of employing seamless initiatives that effectively safeguard the Indian Ocean Region.   

High Commissioner Moragoda also highlighted that the positioning of an International Liaison Officer from Sri Lanka at the IFC-IOR reflects the ever-growing Indo-Lanka defence ties, Sri Lanka’s commitment towards safeguarding the common maritime interest in the Indian Ocean Region and the progress the two countries have made over the years in bilateral relations which continue to expand across a wide range of areas.  

The IFC-IOR was established in 2018 by the Indian Government and is hosted by the Indian Navy to enhance maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean Region. The IFC-IOR was envisaged to address the need to promote collaboration for maritime safety and security in view of the region’s importance with respect to world trade and security.  

• The IFC-IOR is  hosted by the Indian Navy to enhance maritime safety and security in the  Indian Ocean Region.