President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left the island today (03 December) to attend the 5th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Head of State, who arrived at the passenger terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake to leave the country, engaged in a cordial discussion with the passengers.
The first Indian Ocean Conference commenced in 2016 with the objective of discussing issues of common interest and concerns to countries in the Indian Ocean region and other countries using the Indian Ocean.
The Fourth Summit, themed “Securing the Indian Ocean Region: Traditional and Non-Traditional Challenges”, was held in the Maldives in 2019.
The 5th Indian Ocean Conference will be held from the 04th to 05th December in Abu Dhabi. This year’s forum is themed is “Ecology, Economy, Epidemic”. The inaugural address will be delivered by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and the Principal Advisor to the President, Lalith Weeratunga are accompanying the President on this visit.
