Sri Lanka joins US-led forum on Indian Ocean ports and logistics

Tuesday, 9 June 2026 04:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lankan delegation with partners from across the Indo-Pacific at the Port of Baltimore, USA

The US Embassy in Sri Lanka recently facilitated a high-level Sri Lankan delegation to the US Forum on Indian Ocean Ports and Supply Chains in Washington, DC.

Convened and funded by the US Department of State, the forum brought together Indo-Pacific partners, port operators, and US private sector leaders to leverage US technology for resilient infrastructure and secure supply chains and to expand investment across the Indian Ocean region, the embassy said.

The Sri Lankan delegation included: Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Direct Investment Hanif Yusoof, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, Shippers Academy Colombo CEO Rohan Masakorala, Sri Lanka Logistics and Freight Forwarders Association Chairman Andre Fernando, Colombo West International Terminal Chief Commercial Officer Dashma Karunaratne, ABC Shipping Ltd., Chairman John Shiran Dissanayake, and Office of the Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Direct Investment Chief of Staff Aritha Wickramasinghe.

Deputy Secretary of State

Christopher Landau

Delegates from Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka explored opportunities in port development, digital transformation with essential cybersecurity, trade financing, and supply chain efficiency — reinforcing the United States’ commitment to a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Deputy Assistant Secretary Bethany Morrison opened the forum alongside senior US officials and private sector representatives, underscoring how secure and well-connected regional ports are both an economic imperative and a US national security priority.

During their visit to the United States, the Sri Lankan delegates toured the Port of Baltimore, where they met with port officials and industry stakeholders to learn about port operations, logistics, innovative equipment and digital platforms, and supply chain management practices that support one of America’s key maritime gateways.

The forum advances the United States’ strategic interest to deepen partnerships across the Indo-Pacific, connect regional governments with US private sector investment and technology, and ensure the Indo-Pacific’s critical maritime infrastructure is built on a foundation of transparency, trust, and shared prosperity, the US Embassy said.