Australia to donate maritime surveillance aircraft to Sri Lanka at the end of the year: High Commissioner

Australia will donate a maritime surveillance aircraft at the end of this year to improve Sri Lanka’s capability, country’s High Commissioner Paul Stephens said recently.   

He said this at the Pathfinder Foundation’s ‘Ambassadors Roundtable’ held with, Paul Stephens, High Commissioner of Australia to Sri Lanka, presented ‘Australia’s approach to the Indian Ocean Region & the Broader Indo-Pacific’.   

The High Commissioner Stephens elaborated on Australia’s viewpoint on the theme, highlighting Australia’s strategic interests and diplomatic engagements in the region. He underscored Australia’s strong diplomatic ties with India, emphasising the importance of India as a major player in the Indian Ocean region. Furthermore, he highlighted the enduring 75-year relationship between Sri Lanka and Australia, noting his country’s support for Sri Lanka through the challenging periods the country has traversed.   

In his presentation, High Commissioner Stephens outlined Australia’s focus on climate change and maritime freedom, including the issue of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Indian Ocean.   

Asked how Australia can contribute to Sri Lanka in its endeavour to contain IUU fishing by Indian fishermen, he said it is a sensitive question and Australia has little to do about. He said Sri Lanka and India, as close partners, should discuss and resolve it through political engagements.   

 He also detailed Australia’s vision for transparency, autonomy, a robust multilateral system, adherence to a rules-based international system, and respect for the sovereignty of each country, stressing how these principles influence the multilateral system.   

Additionally, he discussed Australia’s interests in strengthening bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, particularly in areas such as tourism, investments, energy, security and education.   
The roundtable provided a valuable platform for a meaningful dialogue on international relations, enhancing the understanding of Australia’s diplomatic stance, objectives, and approach to the Indian Ocean Region and the broader Indo-Pacific.   

In addition to the Ambassadors’ Roundtable, Pathfinder conducts briefing sessions for Colombo-based diplomatic personnel at regular intervals. ‘Dialogue with Diplomats’allows Colombo-based diplomats to focus on topical issues covering a broad spectrum of subjects. It also provides a platform for them to meet with officials of government institutions, academics, representatives of think tanks, etc.