Saturday Nov 07, 2026
Saturday Nov 07, 2026
Saturday, 7 November 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
From left: Pathfinder Director Ahmed Jawad, Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke, German Ambassador Dr. Felix Neumann, Pathfinder Founder Milinda Moragoda, BOBP-IGO Director Dr. Pandian Krishnan Pandey, CHD Senior Adviser for South Asia Venu Rajamony, and President’s Adviser to the President on Maritime, Ports and Logistics Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake
Participant of the two-day sixth Bay of Bengal Maritime Dialogue attracted local and international participants, with the inaugural session featuring Colombo-based diplomatic missions, including ambassadors and high commissioners.
The sixth Bay of Bengal Maritime Dialogue, co-hosted by the Pathfinder Foundation and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD) of Switzerland, was held at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo.
The inaugural session of the two-day Dialogue was attended by Pathfinder Foundation Founder Milinda Moragoda. The session featured a plenary address by Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Secretary-General Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, and a keynote address delivered via a recorded message by Indonesia Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Arief Havas Oegroseno.
A special address was delivered by German Ambassador Dr. Felix Neumann, who highlighted the strategic significance of the Indian Ocean, describing it as a maritime region that connects the global economy and serves as the heartbeat of international commerce.
The Bay of Bengal region, one of the world’s most densely populated and economically dynamic areas, continues to play a pivotal role in global trade and regional development. Approximately a quarter of global maritime commerce passes through its waters, while its considerable natural and human resources offer significant opportunities for sustainable economic growth.
Building on the policy recommendations developed through the five previous Dialogues, this year’s gathering placed particular emphasis on translating policy recommendations into practical and actionable outcomes.
The key thematic priorities included advancing regional consensus on collaborative maritime governance, establishing coordinated mechanisms to strengthen maritime communications, and addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The Dialogue also sought to deepen understanding of the Bay of Bengal as a distinct sub-region within the broader Indo-Pacific, where geopolitical, economic and ecological interests increasingly converge.
The Sixth Dialogue further incorporated cross-cutting priorities, particularly inclusive policymaking, recognising the importance of grounding maritime security policies in local realities and strengthening scientific collaboration.
Welcome remarks were delivered by Ambassador (Retd.) Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman of the Pathfinder Foundation, and Ambassador (Retd.) Venu Rajamony, Senior Adviser for South Asia at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.
The two-day event brought together local and international participants, including representatives of diplomatic missions based in Colombo, among them ambassadors and high commissioners, as well as experts and stakeholders engaged in maritime affairs and regional cooperation.
