Sri Lanka has reaffirmed its commitment to the ASEAN Regional Forum at a Senior Officials’ Meeting in Manila, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, describing the forum as an important platform for dialogue, confidence-building, preventive diplomacy and practical cooperation across the Asia-Pacific.
The Sri Lankan delegation, led by Additional Secretary M.R.K. Lenagala of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, reiterated Colombo’s interest in deepening engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including through its pursuit of an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partnership.
Sri Lanka highlighted its active contributions to the ARF process during 2023–2026, including hosting and co-hosting meetings in non-proliferation and disarmament, defence education and disaster relief, the Ministry said. The delegation welcomed the development of the ARF Manila Plan of Action 2026–2036 adopted at the meeting, and recalled Sri Lanka’s interest in co-hosting an ARF Peacekeeping Experts Meeting during the Inter-Sessional Year 2026–2029, citing its experience in conflict management and peacebuilding.
Sri Lanka has been a member of the ARF since 2007. The forum brings together ASEAN’s 10 member states with 17 dialogue partners and observers, including the United States, China, India, Russia, Japan, Australia, the European Union and Pakistan, making it one of the principal Asia-Pacific platforms for security dialogue.
Source: Ada Derana.
