Prof. Peiris as Vice Chair of IORA at its 21st Council of Ministers meeting calls for collective action

Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, accepting the charge of the Vice-Chair position of the Indian Ocean Rim Association at the 21st Council of Ministers Meeting held in Dhaka called for collective action to safeguard the maritime shipping lanes and ocean space from pollution related disasters.

Referring to the MV X-Press Pearl disaster in May 2021, involving plastic nurdles, hazardous and noxious materials, Minister Peiris said that the environmental impact was not only felt in Sri Lanka but with possible long-term repercussions on marine environment beyond Sri Lanka waters. Emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation in maritime safety and security, Minister Peiris stated that Sri Lanka would take the lead in proposing collective action that could avert or mitigate such disasters that have long term repercussions not only on the environment but also livelihoods – a critical concern for all Member States. He also called on the global community to establish a fund to recover environmental damage and losses considering the magnitude of the consequences of such incidents. He thanked all Member States who extended their support to mitigate the environmental impact of the disaster.

Congratulating the Government of Bangladesh on the assumption of leadership of IORA, Foreign Minister Peiris stated that Sri Lanka unreservedly had placed its confidence in Bangladesh leading IORA in the next two years which is crucial given the ongoing pandemic. He also thanked the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its excellent work and resilience in steering IORA during its tenure. He also thanked the outgoing past chair, the Government of South Africa for enriching collective decisions as a member of the Troika and the Acting Secretary General and his staff for their tireless work done during the absence of a Secretary General.

The Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, commenting on the theme selected by Bangladesh for the period of its Chairmanship: “Harnessing opportunities of Indian Ocean sustainably for inclusive development”, stated that the Indian Ocean was the third largest, covering an area of more than 70 million sq km, and that the world was witnessing mounting competition in the Indian Ocean rim over oceanic resources. He stated that it highlighted the need for regional mechanisms, which could guide countries in the region to cooperate and engage peacefully in harnessing the prospects in a more sustainable manner and IORA was working on an overarching vision on this key thematic area, which was imperative for the promotion of a sustainable ocean economy.

The Minister alluding to “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor”, the vision statement of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka, stated that the use of ocean resources in a sustainable manner under the concept of a blue-green economy was a cornerstone of Government policy. Referring to a speech made by the President at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-26) in Scotland, the Minister said that sustainability was at the heart of Sri Lanka’s national policy framework, and was shaped by Lord Buddha’s teachings, which placed great value on environmental integrity.

Speaking on COVID-19, the Minister stated that Sri Lanka remained deeply concerned by the unprecedented challenge for the whole of humanity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic which led to catastrophic health impacts and devastation of economies, especially in the tourism sector.

He said that Sri Lanka had embarked on a new journey to resuscitate tourism, and had opened its doors for tourists, while taking every possible measure to ensure the wellbeing of the people. He acknowledged that tourism had immense potential for growth and development and contributed to the economies of Member States. He said Sri Lanka was confident that the global community would come together to address the challenges posed by the pandemic and build economies in dynamic ways.