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Either we wait for global developments to dictate our fate or unite to chart our own course
View(s):President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Indian Ocean Conference in Perth
Delivering the keynote address at the 7th Indian Ocean Conference in Perth, Australia on Friday President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed the urgency of addressing the climate crisis, pointing to warnings by experts on the Indian Ocean’s vulnerability to warming and rising sea levels.
The island states of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) are vulnerable and have to be provided with adequate resources to mitigate the effects of climate change, said the President. “Changes at sea also affect monsoon patterns and in turn impact on agriculture and food security across the Indian Ocean region. They also impact on the biodiversity and in turn on food and livelihood of people of the littoral states,” said Mr Wickremesinghe.
President Wickremesinghe delivering the keynote address and (below) with Honourary Consul Dr. Rosh Jalagge and Mrs. Priyanka Gamage.
“We are living in uncertain times. The stability we had taken for granted since the end of World War II and the Cold War is unravelling. Globalisation is being challenged as is multilateralism,” said the President. He added that the Climate Crisis is affecting prospects for trade and economic development around the world. It is impacting on food security, livelihoods, supply chains, biodiversity and maritime transportation, he noted. “Either we can wait for global developments to dictate our fate or unite, so that we may chart our own course.”
This year’s event was themed “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean,” and aims to foster cooperation among 40 participating nations. The conference was organised by the India Foundation in collaboration with India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Australian Government, along with support from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, and Perth-US Asia Centre.
President Wickremesinghe also met with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the conference in Perth. The discussions focused on the bilateral projects that are being undertaken, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
The President visited the Sri Lankan Consulate in Western Australia yesterday (10) where he met the Honourary Consul and Consulate staff. Upon arrival, the President was greeted by Honourary Consul Dr. Rosh Jalagge and Mrs. Priyanka Gamage.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss shared interests between the Consulate and the Sri Lankan community in Western Australia, with a particular focus on advancing economic development initiatives in Sri Lanka, the PMD added.
During his stay in Perth, President Wickremesinghe also met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Reflecting on the historical relations between Sri Lanka and Australia, dating back to the Colombo Plan, both leaders affirmed their commitment to bolstering bilateral relations further.
He also met with Western Australian Premier Roger Cook. President Wickremesinghe invited the Premier to visit Sri Lanka and explore the investment opportunities in the country.
President Wickremesinghe further met with the Sri Lankan diaspora community in Perth where he provided an update on the nation’s recovery efforts and discussed strategies for modernising the economy. He also affirmed the government’s dedication to executing longstanding policies. Mr Wickremesinghe also explained the efforts to revamp Sri Lanka’s education system, which includes plans for introducing private universities, the PMD stressed.
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