Sri Lanka Navy convenes global maritime leaders at 12th Galle Dialogue in Welisara

The Sri Lanka Navy, under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence, inaugurated the 12th edition of the Galle Dialogue International Maritime Conference today, 24 Sep 25. The inaugural ceremony held at the Wave n' Lake Navy Hall in Welisara, was presided over by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The two-day (24 and 25 September) conference, themed ‘Maritime Outlook of the Indian Ocean under Changing Dynamics,’ brings together leading maritime experts and representatives from 37 nations and 16 international organizations.

The forum is structured around four sessions, focusing on five key thematic areas: Marine environment, Maritime governance, Maritime economy, Maritime sustainability, and a Clean Indian Ocean.

In this backdrop, safeguarding the Indian Ocean demands a united effort and Sri Lanka, together with coastal states and global maritime stakeholders, shares this responsibility. Incidentally, the Galle Dialogue provides a unique stage to exchange ideas, strengthen cooperation, and shape collective responses to emerging maritime challenges.

Delivering the welcome address, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, extended his gratitude to the Hon. Prime Minister and all distinguished local and foreign delegates for their gracious presence at the conference. Adding further, he extended gratitude, on behalf of the Navy and the Ministry of Defence, to all stakeholders who contributed to the successful conduct of the Galle Dialogue International Maritime Conference from its inception through the twelfth edition. In the address, he also underscored the Sri Lanka Navy’s pivotal role in ensuring maritime security and safety, aligned with the national policy of fostering environmental, social, and ethical transformation.

The Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Damian Fernando introduced the theme of this year’s Galle Dialogue, followed by the keynote address delivered by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The Prime Minister commended the Sri Lanka Navy for its commitment to advancing cooperation with global maritime partners and highlighted the Galle Dialogue’s role as a leading forum on the future of the Indian Ocean. She stressed the need for collective action to address geopolitical competition, environmental concerns, illegal migration, and other non-traditional maritime challenges in the region.

Emphasizing the promotion of lawful ocean use, freedom of navigation, marine conservation, and the blue economy, the Prime Minister noted that the 2025 theme, “Maritime Outlook of the Indian Ocean under Changing Dynamics,” is timely in the context of emerging geopolitical trends.

On the sidelines of the conference, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, engaged in bilateral discussions with Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, the Chief of Naval Staff of India, along with senior naval officers, defense chiefs, and maritime experts from Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Thailand, Netherlands, Russia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Australia and Singapore.

The conference concludes tomorrow, 25 September, with sessions dedicated to the Maritime Economy under Changing Dynamics and Maritime Sustainability under Changing Dynamics.

The occasion was graced by envoys and diplomatic officials to Sri Lanka, Ministers, Deputy Ministers including Deputy Minister of Defence Hon. Aruna Jayaseka (Retd), Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, Secretary Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), senior government officials, former Navy Commanders, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Chief of Staff of the Navy, Navy’s Board of Management, Area Commanders, flag rank officers, and a group of distinguished guests including senior officers from the tri-services.

The event is being streamed live on the Sri Lanka Navy's official YouTube channel as well.