Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation of Sri Lanka Anura Karunathilake attended the India Maritime Week 2025 (IMW) organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India from 27-31 October 2025 in Mumbai, India.
Speaking at the IMW ministerial plenary session, Minister Karunathilake observed that oceans are the bridges that connect civilizations and cultures, and the maritime industry is a lifeline of trade, energy, and connectivity, central to collective economic growth. Commending India’s Sagarmala programme and the Maritime India Vision 2030, he noted that they present a framework for regional collaboration to strengthen trade, connectivity, and shared prosperity across the Indian Ocean. He highlighted that joint efforts between Sri Lanka, India and neighbouring countries can create a resilient, interconnected network of ports that benefits the broader South Asian economy and supports the seamless flow of trade across the region.
Minister Karunathilake also participated in Sagarmanthan–The Great Oceans Dialogue co-hosted by the Observer Research Foundation and Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India. Sagarmanthan is an international platform for conversations on the blue economy, maritime logistics, ports, shipping and waterways sectors, and the global ocean economy. Speaking as a panellist on Shaping the Future Global Logistics: Building Resilient, Smart and Sustainable Supply Chains, he conveyed that the government intends to develop Sri Lanka as a regional bunkering and energy hub at the ports of Colombo, Trincomalee and Hambantota, and highlighted the need for automation to enhance port capacity and efficiency.
On the sidelines of India Maritime Week, Minister Karunathilaka had a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal. The two ministers discussed existing and potential bilateral cooperation, including investment in port infrastructure, training and capacity building, digitalisation and industrial partnerships.
The Minister also visited the newly inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport and Jawaharlal Nehru Ports Authority.
Minister Karunathilaka was accompanied to the engagements by Sri Lanka’s Consul General in Mumbai Priyanga Wickramasinghe, Consul (Commercial) Shirani Ariyarathna and Private Secretary Sidath Perera.
