Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) has reiterated that the Indian Ocean must remain a zone of peace, cooperation and shared prosperity, framing his remarks against a transformation of the global order driven by the rise of multiple centres of power.
Thuyacontha said the international system is undergoing a profound shift that is reshaping political, economic, technological and security dynamics. While the move toward a multi-polar framework could foster greater balance and inclusivity, intensifying competition among major powers, geopolitical rivalries and the erosion of multilateral cooperation are contributing to heightened uncertainty in the global security environment, he said.
Modern security challenges are no longer limited to traditional military threats, the Defence Secretary added. Cyber attacks, terrorism and violent extremism, transnational crime networks, disinformation campaigns and the misuse of emerging technologies are increasingly influencing global stability, compounded by economic volatility, food and energy insecurity, and climate-related disasters that particularly affect developing nations and smaller states.
Highlighting Sri Lanka’s strategic geographic position, Thuyacontha said developments in the Indian Ocean region were of particular importance as global power competition expands into the Indo-Pacific. The country has reiterated its longstanding position that the ocean must remain a zone of peace, he said, and stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and upholding international law as essential components of regional and global stability.
He called for constructive engagement, mutual respect and dialogue to prevent escalating tensions from spilling into conflict, arguing that no single country can effectively address the complex security challenges of today. Maritime security, cybercrime, terrorism and climate-related risks all require strengthened international cooperation, intelligence sharing and coordinated action. Sri Lanka, he said, remains committed to non-alignment and peaceful coexistence while maintaining balanced and friendly relations with all nations.
Thuyacontha’s intervention extends a position he set out last week, when he raised Sri Lanka’s call for the Indian Ocean to remain a zone of peace at the 14th International Meeting of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters in Moscow. The remarks come the same day US Central Command confirmed it had struck Iranian radar and drone control sites at Geruk and Qeshm Island, and Iran’s IRGC retaliated with a strike on a US base in Kuwait — the latest escalation under the fragile Iran war ceasefire that has reverberated through Sri Lanka’s fuel imports and broader energy security.
