Indo-Lanka IMBL meeting today

Sandasen Marasinghe

The routine biannual International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) meeting between Sri Lanka and India will be held today. The meeting will be held with the participation of the Sri Lanka Navy, Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard Unit on board an Indian ship on the Indo-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line in the North of Sri Lanka.

Navy Spokesman Captain Athula Senarath The Navy Spokesman further stated that this meeting is held to strengthen the relationship between the two Navies and mainly with regard to secure the seas in coordination with the two Navies. With reference to a news item published in an Indian Newspaper in connection with the IMBL meeting, Captain Senarath stated that the Sri Lanka Navy totally dismisses claims that this meeting was urgently called to discuss the matters related to harassments of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

“This is not an urgent meeting, it is held twice every year” Captain Senarath said “One of its objectives is to strengthen the cordial relationship between the two Navies in securing the security in the sea area between the two countries.”

The Sri Lankan Navy Delegation will comprise representatives of the Northern Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command, North Central Naval Command and Director Naval Operations of Navy Headquarters Commodore Neil Rosayro.told the Daily News that at this routine operational meeting, matters related to Naval Surveillance Patrol carried out by both Navies in their respective waters in the Palk Straits Sea area will be discussed.

Issues related to fisheries activities in the same area including poaching by fishermen of both countries will be taken into consideration.