Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Calls for Stronger Regional Cooperation at 5th BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs' Meeting

• 6^th BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs' Meeting will be held in Sri Lanka next year

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) addressing the 5^th BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs' Meeting held in New Delhi, India, today (16 July) reaffirmed Sri Lanka's commitment to strengthening regional security cooperation.

Representing Sri Lanka at the high-level security heads meeting, the Defence Secretary emphasized that the security of the Bay of Bengal region is a shared responsibility that can only be safeguarded through mutual trust, sustained dialogue and coordinated action among BIMSTEC member states.

Highlighting the evolving regional security landscape, he noted that terrorism, violent extremism, cyber threats, transnational organized crime, narcotics and human trafficking, misinformation, and climate-related disasters transcend national borders and require collective responses. He stressed that no single country can effectively address these challenges in isolation.

The Defence Secretary underscored BIMSTEC's growing significance as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia, describing the regional grouping as an important platform for fostering peace, stability and sustainable development. He further called for translating dialogue into concrete action by strengthening intelligence and information-sharing mechanisms, enhancing cooperation in combating transnational crime and cyber threats, improving humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and fostering greater collaboration among regional institutions. He also highlighted that lasting security depends not only on stronger borders but also on stronger partnerships built on trust, shared responsibility and common purpose.

The Defence Secretary reiterated Sri Lanka's belief that the strength of BIMSTEC lies in transforming geographical proximity into strategic solidarity, enabling member states to collectively build a peaceful, resilient and prosperous Bay of Bengal region for future generations.

The meeting brought together National Security Chiefs and senior security officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand to deliberate on shared regional security challenges and avenues for enhanced cooperation. Sri Lanka will host the 6th BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs' Meeting in 2027.