India, Sri Lanka, Maldives Sign Tripartite Maritime Security Pact

New Delhi, July 10, IRNA - India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have entered into a tripartite agreement on maritime cooperation to secure sea routes in the Indian Ocean region. India’s National Security Advisor Shivshanker Menon, Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Maldivesˈ Minister of Defence Mohamed Nazim signed the agreement Monday in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka, at the end of Meeting on Trilateral Cooperation on Maritime Security. ˈAt the conclusion of the meeting an outcome document detailing specific areas of cooperation in the maritime security sphere was signed,ˈ pti reported quoting a statement from Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense. ˈThe agreement was reached by all on the importance of raising the maritime cooperation between the three countries in the current context of maritime security environment in the Indian Ocean region,ˈ the statement said. It added the deal follows several senior official and technical level consultations held among the three nations. Menon, who has served in Colombo as the Indian High Commissioner in the past, is visiting Sri Lanka with a six-member delegation to hold talks on the controversial 13th amendment on devolution of power in the Tamil-dominated northern province./end