India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrived in Colombo on Friday for trilateral maritime dialogue among India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. 

Sri Lanka will host the fourth national security advisor trilateral meeting on maritime security cooperation with India and Maldives on Friday and Saturday.

India’s National Security Advisor, who is accompanied by five high-ranking officers of the Indian Defence Ministry, was greeted at the airport by Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, according to Ada Derana reporter. 

“NSA Ajit Doval arrived in Colombo for trilateral India-Sri Lanka-Maldives consultations on maritime and security cooperation. He was accorded a warm welcome by Army Commander Lt Gen @SilvaShavendra,” the Indian Embassy in Colombo tweeted.

The meeting is to take place after six years - the last meeting was held in New Delhi in 2014. 

This will be the first NSA level meeting on Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation. Besides Doval, Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Major General (Retd). Kamal Gunaratne and Maldives Defence Minister Mariya Didi will participate in the meeting.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the NSA-level trilateral meeting has served as an effective platform for cooperation among Indian Ocean countries. The mechanism is being revived after six years as earlier meetings were held in 2011 in the Maldives, in 2013 in Sri Lanka, and in 2014 in India.

(With inputs from agencies)