33rd edition of annual IMBL meeting between representatives of Navies and Coast Guards of India and Sri Lanka was held onboard INS Sumitra on 03 Noc 2023 at Indo- Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Line off Point Calimere at Palk Bay. The Sri Lankan delegation headed by Commander North Central Naval Area (NCNA), Sri Lankan Navy RAdm BAKS Banagoda also included Deputy Area Commander (Northern Naval Area) Commodore N Ranasinghe, Director Naval Intelligence Commodore SJ Kumara and Director Naval Operations Commodore AD Weerasinghe.
The Indian delegation was headed by FOTNA RAdm Ravi Kumar Dhingra. Representative from Coast Guard Regional Head Quarters (East) Deputy Inspector General PN Anoop, Defence Advisor to High Commission of India in Colombo Captain M Anand and other distinguished guests from both countries also participated in the event. During the meeting, attendees from both Navies and Coast Guard discussed maritime security in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar region, safety of fishermen, measures to curtail trafficking of contraband among other issues. Ways and means to enhance existing communication network and timely sharing of information between two Navies and Coast Guard aiding in timely actions were also discussed at length. Both sides reaffirmed importance of mutual cooperation in operations and agreed to take forward the decisions taken, to strengthen the maritime security in area.
