New Delhi. A high level Indo-Sri Lankan Coast Guard meeting was held here to strengthen cooperation and focus on a wide range of maritime issues concerning safety and security. The apprehension of two fishing boats by Sri Lanka involved in drug trafficking based on the information exchange undertaken by Indian Coast Guard invoking an MoU inked by the two sides was recognised as an important enabler for pursuing further collaborative response to emerging situations at sea.

The meeting hosted by Director General K Natarajan, Chief of Indian Coast Guard was attended by a four member delegation of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard led by the Director General of Sri Lankan Coast Guard Rear Admiral Samantha Wimalathunge.

The Sri Lankan delegation who is here on a five day visit since August 19 discussed in detail continued capacity building of Sri Lanka Coast Guard by Indian Coast Guard, training of Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel and mutual cooperation in multilateral fora.