Foreign ministers from Sri Lanka and India held high-level talks aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and discussing regional security developments. The meeting focused on economic collaboration, maritime security in the Indian Ocean, and evolving geopolitical tensions that could affect South Asia.

Following the meeting, the Indian FM, Dr.Jaishankar said India’s regional engagement with Sri Lanka would continue to be guided by its “Vision MAHASAGAR” and “Neighbourhood First” policies.

In a message posted after the talks, he described the discussions as “warm” and said both sides reviewed ways to deepen cooperation while also exchanging views on regional developments.

Sources said the discussion also touched on wider global tensions, including developments in the Middle East and their potential impact on global energy markets and shipping routes.

The meeting comes as Sri Lanka has been drawn into the ongoing Middle East conflict involving Iran and the United States after a U.S. submarine torpedoed an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean near the island.

The island nation has maintained a neutral stance in the conflict, balancing its economic ties with both sides. The United States being the island’s largest export market, while Iran remains the primary buyer of Sri Lankan tea, the country’s main export commodity.