He made these remarks addressing the valedictory session of the Indian Ocean Conference 2017 held at the Temple Trees, on 1st September.

Sri Lanka is vital center to strengthen the trade and naval activities of the region as well as to prosper the entire humankind due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean, the President said that adding Sri Lanka is extending its hands to all the friendly States to move forward with the new technology while building a better society for the people.

President Sirisena said that he believed that the attention of this conference was also drawn regarding the using of the ocean for the purposes of war activities, drug smuggling as well as human trafficking.  

He also said that each country in the Indian Ocean region is committed to ensure the international peace, reconciliation and brotherhood as it values the national reconciliation and peace and he also recalled how the World’s first woman Prime Minister Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike presented a proposal in 1960 at the UN Summit to turn the Indian Ocean into a zone of peace.

The President also recalled the proposal made by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the importance of the Indian Ocean region and again emphasized the collaboration of all countries on the security of the Indian Ocean.

The Indian Ocean Conference which discuss about the peace and security of the Indian Ocean Region, held under the theme of peace, progress and prosperity.