The international conference on ‘Maritime Security of Small, Middle and Island Nations: Between Competition, Cooperation and Co-Existence’ was successfully held from 15–16 May 2025 at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The event was co-organised by the Consortium of South Asian Think Tanks (COSATT), the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).
The Chief of National Intelligence, Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya (Retd), attended the inaugural ceremony representing the Secretary of Ministry of Defence. The Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe and the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, Major General Chandana Wickramasinghe attended the inaugural ceremony as Guests of Honour.
The conference commenced with an inaugural session featuring welcome remarks delivered by the Overlooking Director General and Acting Director (Research), INSS, Colonel Nalin Herath and a keynote address delivered by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda. The keynote speech set the tone for two days of comprehensive dialogue on maritime security challenges and cooperation among small, middle, and island nations, particularly within the Indo-Pacific region.
Dr. Nishchal N. Pandey, Director, Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu, Nepal and Convener of the COSATT addressed the gathering during the inaugural session, highlighting the collaboration and cooperation between INSS, KAS and COSATT, including other think tanks.
The conference also witnessed the presence of members of the diplomatic corps, academics and professionals from local and international universities, senior representatives of Sri Lanka’s tri-services, Sri Lanka Coast Guard, officials from relevant ministries and delegates from both local and international think tanks.
The event featured five thematic panel discussions, which brought together regional scholars, defence analysts, policy experts, and representatives of international institutions:
a. Strategic Competition in Maritime Domains: Navigating Major Power Rivalries – Addressed the growing geopolitical tensions and strategic competition in key maritime zones.
b. Competing Strategies: Major Powers in Asian Waters – Explored the impact of military partnerships, strategic investments, and balancing mechanisms employed by major powers.
c. The EU’s Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific: A Safe Harbour for Partners – Focused on the European Union’s evolving engagement in the Indo-Pacific maritime space.
d. Maritime Governance: Law of the Sea, UNCLOS, and the Rules-Based Order – Deliberated on the legal frameworks and norms governing global maritime conduct.
e. COSATT and Future Plans – Provided a platform for participants to discuss follow-up initiatives and potential future collaborations.
Importantly, 12 foreign speakers representing India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Philippine, Pakistan, Germany and Singapore participated in the above panel discussions, sharing their vast knowledge and experience on the subject matter discussed during the conference.
Throughout the discussions, participants highlighted key traditional maritime threats such as territorial disputes, strategic naval deployments and resource competition. The dialogue also brought to the fore pressing non-traditional threats, including human trafficking, piracy, maritime terrorism, illicit maritime trade, marine environmental degradation, climate change, and rising sea levels, disproportionately affecting small, middle, and island states, including Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the audience attended the two-day international conference actively participated in the conference whilst sharing knowledge related to the discussed subject matter.
The conference fostered constructive exchanges among experts from South and Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond. It reaffirmed the importance of multilateral engagement, mutual respect, and strategic cooperation to ensure maritime security, uphold international law and maintain stability in contested waters. The COSATT-INSS-KAS International Conference concluded with a shared understanding of the complex and evolving nature of maritime security and a strong commitment to continued dialogue and collaboration.
