About the Conference
The Indian Ocean: Defining Our Future’ conference hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka, the Global Maritime Crimes Programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI), will be held on 11-12 October 2018 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This two-day conference will convene stakeholders from Indian Ocean littoral states as well as major maritime users of the Indian Ocean. Issues related to the maritime domain, including economic activity, environmental sustainability, safety and security and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) will be discussed.
Featured speakers
H. E. Maithripala Sirisena
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Ma
Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, M.P.
Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Amb. Peter Thomson
UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
Ambassado
Hon. Tilak Marapana, P.C., M.P
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic
Hon. (Dr.) Harsha De Silva, M.P.
State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Sri Lanka
State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Sri Lan
Pankaj Saran
Deputy National Security Advisor, Government of India
Deputy National Security Advisor, Government of India
Mr. Pank
Dr. Anil Sooklal
Deputy Director-General, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa, and Chair, Committee of Senior Officials of IORA
Deputy Director-General, Department of International Relations an
Yi Xianliang
Director-General, Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People’s Republic of China
Director-General, Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs, Minis
The Venue
Temple Trees – Prime Minister Residence
Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka
+94 112 575 317
Conference Schedule
Day 01 full schedule
11 October, 2018
Opening Plenary
08.00 am
Registration
08:45 am
Guests to be Seated
09.00 am
National Anthem
09.05 am
Lighting of Traditional Oil Lamp
09.10 am
Introductory Remarks
Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, Executive Director, LKI
09.15 am
Welcome Address
Hon. Tilak Marapana, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
09.20 am
Inaugural Address
H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
09.30 am
Keynote Speech
Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
09.40 am
Address
Amb. Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
Inaugural Panel – Navigating Challenges and Prospects in the Indian Ocean: Towards a Shared Understanding
The Indian Ocean has long played host to some of the world’s most important trade and communication corridors, and its littoral states are now rapidly emerging as new drivers of the global economy. However, the region also faces a number of challenges. This panel will bring together officials from major littoral states and users of the Indian Ocean to outline their shared vision for the future of the region.
09.55 am
Opening Remarks by Chair of the Panel
Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Sri Lanka
10.05 am
Panel Discussion
Mr. Pankaj Saran, Deputy National Security Advisor, Government of India
Dr. Anil Sooklal, Deputy Director-General, Department of International
Relations and Cooperation, South Africa, and Chair, Committee of Senior
Officials of IORA
Amb. Alice G. Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, US Department of State
Mr. Yi Xianliang, Director-General, Department of Boundary and Ocean
Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People’s Republic of China
Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka
11.05 am
Remarks
Mr. Alan Cole, Head, Global Maritime Crime Programme, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
11.10 am
Remarks
Prof. Sandeep Gopalan, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic Innovation, Deakin University, Australia
Mr. Athula Pathinayake, Executive Director, Centre on the Legal Profession, Deakin University, Australia
11.15 am
Break for Tea & Coffee
Round Table Session 1 – The Indian Ocean Economy: The New Global Growth Pole
The Indian Ocean economy has become a major driver of global growth over the past two decades and has the potential to become a dominant force in the world economy by 2025. But the diversity in the region’s economies requires the right policies to make the most of its potential. This session will seek to set out the priorities to ensure the Indian Ocean’s future as the new global growth pole.
11.40 am
Introductory Comments by Co-Chairs
Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, Executive Director, LKI
Dr. Prabir De, Professor, Research and Information System for Developing Countries, India
11.50 am
Remarks by Speakers
Ms. Caroline Vinot, Head of South Asia Division, European External Action Service, European Union
Dr. Siswo Pramono, Head/Director General, Policy Analysis and Development Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Indonesia
Prof. Masahiro Kawai, Representative Director and Director-General, Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia, Japan and Professor Emeritus and Specially Appointed Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo, Japan
Prof. Suthiphand Chirathivat, Professor Emeritus, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
12.20 pm
Comments from Discussants and Participants
01.10 pm
Closing Remarks by Co-Chairs
01.20 pm
Lunch
Round Table Session 2 – Life below Water: Reframing the Oceans as Development Spaces
Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and are an essential base for human life. But a rapidly growing population and the resulting increase in pollution threatens the health of our oceans. This session will explore the opportunities to establish economically-viable polices at the regional level, which favour the sustainable and low-pollution development of the Indian Ocean.
02.40 pm
Introductory Comments by Co-Chairs
Prof. Mohan Munasinghe, Founder Chairman, Munasinghe Institute for Development
Dr. Erika Techera, Professor of Law, University of Western Australia
02.50 pm
Remarks by Speakers
Prof. Micheni Japhet Ntiba, Principal Secretary, State Department for Fisheries, Aquaculture and the Blue Economy, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Kenya
Prof. Sandeep Gopalan, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic Innovation, Deakin University, Australia
Dr. Ananda Mallawatantri, Country Representative, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Sri Lanka
Dr. Karri Ramu, Scientist-E, National Centre for Coastal Research, India
Mr. George Cooke, Deputy Director, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Sri Lanka
03.40 pm
Comments from Discussants and Participants
04.30 pm
Closing Remarks by Co-Chairs
04.40 pm
Tea & Coffee
07.00 pm
Dinner
Hosted by the Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Venue: Temple Trees
Day 02 full schedule
12 October, 2018
Round Table Session 3 – An End to Uncertainty: Safety and Security at Sea
The Indian Ocean is emerging as a major geopolitical theatre due to the ever-increasing trade through its sea lanes. At the same time, nations of the Indian Ocean rim have witnessed the growth of non-traditional threats to maritime security. This session will discuss the most pressing security threats in the Indian Ocean and highlight opportunities for regional understanding and cooperation.
09.00 am
Introductory Comments by Co-Chairs
Adm. (Retd.) Travis Sinniah, Former Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy
Adm. (Retd.) R. K. Dhowan, Former Chief of the Indian Naval Staff and Chairman, National Maritime Foundation, India
09.10 am
Remarks by Speakers
Amb. Markus Potzel, Commissioner for South Asia, Federal Foreign Office, Germany
Mr. Satoshi Suzuki, Deputy Minister for Foreign Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan
Dr. Maria Sultan, Chairperson and President, South Asian Strategic Stability Institute, Pakistan
Capt. Raul Pedrozo, Principal Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, US Indo-Pacific Command
Vice Adm. (Retd.) Anup Singh, Former Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, India
09.50 am
Comments from Discussants and Participants
10.30 am
Closing Remarks by Co-Chairs
10.40 am
Tea & Coffee
Round Table Session 4 – Reinforcing International Law in the Indian Ocean: UNCLOS and Emerging Issues
UNCLOS is the core of the ocean governance regime. The rise of non-traditional security threats and new challenges require collective reflection and deliberation to find effective solutions. This session will consider how to ensure and enhance the prosperity, sustainability, and stability of the Indian Ocean within a rules based approach.
11.10 am
Introductory Comments by Co-Chairs
Dr. Rohan Perera, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York
Dr. Natalie Klein, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales, Australia and Nonresident Fellow, LKI
11.20 am
Remarks by Speakers
Mr. Alan Cole, Head, Global Maritime Crime Programme, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Prof. Andrew Serdy, Director, Institute of Maritime Law, University of Southampton, United Kingdom
Dr. Bimal Patel, Director and Professor of Public International Law, Gujarat National Law University, India
11.50 pm
Comments from Discussants and Participants
12.40 pm
Closing Session
Closing Remarks by Co-Chairs
Closing Plenary
01.00 pm
Summary of Round Table Sessions
Prof. Nayani Melegoda, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
01.20 pm
Remarks on the Way Forward
Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Sri Lanka
01.35 pm
Lunch
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