Galle Dialogue 2025 highlights need of shaping collective responses to emerging maritime trends
With the Indian Ocean’s trade routes, energy flows and fragile ecosystems under growing strain, Sri Lanka last week convened navies, policy-makers and experts from across the world to chart a collective path forward.
The 12th Galle Dialogue International Maritime Conference, held from 24–25 September at the Navy’s Wave n’ Lake Hall in Welisara, brought together delegates from 37 nations and 16 international organisations.
Organised by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) under guidance of the Defence Ministry, the two-day forum was held under the theme ‘Maritime Outlook of the Indian Ocean under Changing Dynamics’, focusing on pressing regional challenges, including maritime security, environmental protection, the blue economy, and collaborative governance, highlighting Sri Lanka’s strategic role in safeguarding one of the world’s most critical maritime regions.
SLN Commander Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, in his welcome address thanked Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and all local and foreign delegates for presence and stressed the Navy’s pivotal role in ensuring maritime security and safety aligned with environmental, social and ethical transformation.
Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Damian Fernando then introduced this year’s five thematic pillars: marine environment, maritime governance, maritime economy, maritime sustainability and a clean Indian Ocean.
Collective action to secure IOR
Calling for collective action to secure a peaceful and sustainable Indian Ocean, Prime Minister Amarasuriya urged regional and global stakeholders to collaborate in securing the Indian Ocean, one of the world’s most strategic maritime domains.
Delivering the Keynote address she emphasised the Indian Ocean’s vital role not only as a trade and energy corridor but also as a lifeline supporting millions of people in coastal communities.
She noted that the region faces a range of traditional and non-traditional challenges, including geopolitical rivalries, climate change, overfishing, pollution, illegal migration, and drug trafficking.
“Sri Lanka recognises its responsibility due to its strategic location. Our aim is to work with all partners to make the Indian Ocean a region that is peaceful, secure, sustainable, and governed on the basis of justice and cooperation.”
The Prime Minister also addressed non-traditional security threats, emphasising the role of the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard in combating illegal activities. “Beyond traditional threats, Sri Lanka faces challenges including drug trafficking. The government is committed to safeguarding national security and public health, and necessary preventive measures are already being implemented,” she said.
Recognising the need for regional cooperation, Dr. Amarasuriya called on all nations to coordinate on maritime security and uphold international law.
Piracy and trafficking
“Sri Lanka cannot face these challenges in the Indian Ocean alone. Freedom of navigation, responding to piracy, trafficking, and illegal migration, as well as the exchange of information, all depend on coordination and confidence-building between navies and coast guards,” she said.
She further highlighted the Government’s commitment to enhancing maritime security by announcing that the 2025 Defence Budget allocates Rs. 92.5 billion to the Sri Lanka Navy, a 12% increase from the previous year, to support patrols, inspections, and intelligence-based operations. “This investment reflects the Government’s commitment to protecting our maritime domain,” she noted, while commending the Navy for its dedication in safeguarding the nation’s waters.
Calling for multilateralism and shared responsibility she said through cooperation, the Indian Ocean could be built as a region of peace, prosperity, and opportunity and no nation could face these challenges alone.
The conference featured robust discussions across five thematic pillars: Marine Environment, Maritime Governance, Maritime Economy, Maritime Sustainability, and a Clean Indian Ocean. Delegates explored the environmental pressures threatening the Indian Ocean, including rising sea temperatures, pollution, and habitat destruction, emphasising the need for marine conservation, expanded protected areas, and stricter pollution control measures.
Blue economy
The blue economy and maritime trade were also highlighted as critical avenues for sustainable growth, with participants advocating for investments in eco-friendly shipping, digitalised port logistics, fisheries management, and renewable ocean energy.
Panels and plenary sessions featured contributions from Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Indian Navy; Admiral Vladimir Vorobev, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy; Rear Admiral Hugues Laine, Joint Force Commander of French Forces in the Indian Ocean; and academics including Dr. Huang Yunsong of Sichuan University.
A special panel on the challenges facing small island states examined the vulnerabilities of nations such as the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Brigadier General Mohamed Saleem of the Maldives Coast Guard stressed the need for regional cooperation to tackle maritime threats, while Rear Admiral Rohan Joseph highlighted Sri Lanka’s strategic location along key East-West shipping routes and its responsibility in ensuring maritime security.
Dr. Asantha Seneviratne provided an academic perspective, comparing Sri Lanka’s post-independence development with other island nations, while Commander Carine Buzaud of France outlined her country’s continued commitment to Indian Ocean stability.
On the sidelines, Vice Admiral Banagoda met Admiral Tripathi and senior officers from Thailand, the Netherlands, Russia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Australia and Singapore to deepen bilateral ties. Delegates noted that these meetings often result in tangible cooperation on humanitarian assistance, search-and-rescue and counter-narcotics.
Plastic pollution
From climate change and plastic pollution to piracy and digitalised ports, the issues confronting the Indian Ocean are diverse but interconnected. The Galle Dialogue’s five pillars — environment, governance, economy, sustainability and a clean ocean — offered a framework for solutions that balance conservation with development.
Commander of the Northern Naval Area Rear Admiral Buddhika Liyanagamage in his vote of thanks, emphasised that safeguarding the Indian Ocean is a shared responsibility requiring cooperation among all coastal states, navies, civil authorities, and international partners.
Throughout the two-day event, participants returned repeatedly to one theme: navies can secure sea routes, combat illegal activities and respond to humanitarian crises only through cooperation, transparency and respect for international law. Delegates also floated ideas such as a regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) task force to strengthen collective response capacity.
The Galle Dialogue 2025 successfully concluded with renewed commitments from participating nations to uphold maritime security, promote sustainable development, and foster collaboration to navigate the Indian Ocean through the complex dynamics of the 21st century.
