Friday Nov 07, 2025
Friday Nov 07, 2025
Monday, 3 November 2025 03:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka last week visited India to attend India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025, organised by India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways at Bombay Exhibition Center, Mumbai.
During the visit, the Minister held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart, Sarbananda Sonowal,. He also joined the Ministerial plenary of the India Maritime Week and met Ministers of several other countries as well.
Speaking at the IMW ministerial plenary session, Minister Karunathilake observed that oceans are the bridges that connect civilisations and cultures, and the maritime industry is a lifeline of trade, energy, and connectivity, central to collective economic growth. Commending India’s Sagarmala programme and the Maritime India Vision 2030, he noted that they present a framework for regional collaboration to strengthen trade, connectivity, and shared prosperity across the Indian Ocean. He highlighted that joint efforts between Sri Lanka, India and neighbouring countries can create a resilient, interconnected network of ports that benefits the broader South Asian economy and supports the seamless flow of trade across the region.
Minister Karunathilaka also participated in the inauguration of Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue, organised by ORF and Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India where he participated in the Ministerial plenary.
Speaking as a panellist on Shaping the Future Global Logistics: Building Resilient, Smart and Sustainable Supply Chains, he conveyed that the government intends to develop Sri Lanka as a regional bunkering and energy hub at the ports of Colombo, Trincomalee and Hambantota, and highlighted the need for automation to enhance port capacity and efficiency.
He also met prominent industry leaders on the sidelines of the visit including JM Baxi and Adani Ports.
Karunathilaka, along with a high-level delegation, visited the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in Navi Mumbai as part of the ongoing India Maritime Week 2025. The visit focused on discussions around advancing maritime technology, enhancing port skilling and training programs, and fostering the exchange of ideas to strengthen regional cooperation in the port and logistics sector. During the visit, the delegates received a comprehensive overview of all the container terminals at JN Port, gaining insights into operational efficiency, automation, and sustainable port management practices.
Minister Karunathilaka was accompanied to the engagements by Sri Lanka’s Consul General in Mumbai Priyanga Wickramasinghe, Consul (Commercial) Shirani Ariyarathna and Private Secretary Sidath Perera.
