By Yohan Perera 

Sri Lanka which is to take over the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) next month will work towards turning the Indian Ocean region into a peace zone, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry announced yesterday. 

Minister Sabry who announced that Sri Lanka will host the IORA summit in Colombo next month when the country will take over the chairmanship of the organisation, told local media that the Sri Lankan government intends promoting and bringing into practice the policy introduced by late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 1971. “It was Ms. Bandaranaike who initiated the policy of turning Indian Ocean into a peace zone by bringing in a resolution in the UN, and we intend working on this policy when we take over the chairmanship of IORA. We will promote a ‘rule-based order’ in the Indian Ocean region and ensure peace, stability and economic development,” the Minister said. 

“Sri Lanka has chosen the theme “Strengthening Indian Ocean architecture, reaching towards Indian Ocean identity. We look forward to an interesting discussion on important matters during the summit,” he added. 

“Sri Lanka being at a geographically important location is looking forward to get maximum use of the summit to get connected to the world. Location is nothing if you don’t get connected to the world,” he highlighted. He said Sri Lanka will make maximum use of the summit to fulfil its objective of becoming a regional economic, air transportation and a naval hub. 

IORA is a dynamic inter-governmental organization aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, peace and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean through its 23 member states and 11 dialogue partners. Around 16 foreign ministers from the member states have confirmed their participation as of Wednesday September 13 2023 according to the Minister. The last summit was held in 2017 in Indonesia, while no summit has been held thereafter due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons.