IORA Council of Ministers meets: Sabry acknowledges challenges and opportunities

The modest progress and recovery Sri Lanka had made over the past 12 to 18 months would not have been possible without the unwavering support and cooperation of our friends in the region and beyond, as well as the resilience of our people, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, said yesterday (11).

The Foreign Minister made the observation at the 23rd Meeting of the IORA Council of Ministers, Colombo.

Minister Sabry said that the return of several high-level delegations to Sri Lanka, after a few turbulent years, is an encouraging sight. Declaring that it is in this spirit, and with this enthusiasm, that Sri Lanka hosts this session, Minister Sabry said “I would like to express our deepest appreciation and commendation for the exceptional leadership and remarkable work done by Bangladesh during their tenure as the Chair of IORA. Bangladesh held this position during one of the most challenging periods amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing restrictions.

“Since then, our organization has developed from strength to strength, and we now have 23 member states and 11 dialogue partners with diverse interests and characteristics.

As we convene today, it is crucial that we recognize the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Our region confronts a variety of complex issues. These challenges require our collective efforts and a strong commitment to discovering innovative and inclusive solutions that are specific to our region, the Indian Ocean, and our heritage. Under the theme of Strengthening Regional Architecture: Reinforcing Indian Ocean Identity, our organisation will discuss these challenges in an open and transparent manner during our deliberations.”