Sri Lanka’s port minister explores maritime technology collaboration during India visit

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Ports, Anura Karunathilaka, visited Mumbai to participate in the India Maritime Week 2025, engaging in high-level discussions on advancing maritime technology, port skilling, and regional cooperation.

According to a statement from the Indian High Commission in Colombo, the minister’s visit centered on strengthening collaboration between India and Sri Lanka in modernizing port operations, developing human capital, and sharing best practices across the maritime sector.

During the two-day event, Minister Karunathilaka held a bilateral meeting with India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and took part in the Ministerial Plenary session of the India Maritime Week. He also met with ministers from several other participating countries to exchange views on sustainable port development and innovation in maritime logistics.

The sri Lankan minister additionally attended the inauguration of “Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue,” a flagship platform within the event that convened global leaders to discuss the future of ocean governance and technology-driven maritime growth.

On the sidelines of his visit, Karunathilaka also interacted with leading Indian maritime industry representatives, including top executives from JM Baxi and Adani Ports, exploring avenues for partnership and investment.

The visit underscored the growing synergy between India and Sri Lanka in building a future-ready, technologically advanced, and regionally integrated maritime ecosystem in the Indian Ocean.