A high‑level Sri Lankan delegation participated in the U.S. Forum on Indian Ocean Ports and Supply Chains in Washington, D.C., last week, underscoring Colombo’s role in regional maritime connectivity.
Convened and funded by the U.S. Department of State, the forum brought together Indo‑Pacific partners, port operators, and U.S. private sector leaders to explore resilient infrastructure, secure supply chains, and expanded investment opportunities across the Indian Ocean.
Delegates from Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka explored opportunities in port development, digital transformation with essential cybersecurity, trade financing, and supply chain efficiency, reinforcing the United States’ commitment to a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Deputy Assistant Secretary Bethany Morrison opened the forum alongside senior U.S. officials and private sector representatives, underscoring how secure and well-connected regional ports are both an economic imperative and a U.S. national security priority.
During their visit to the United States, the Sri Lankan delegates toured the Port of Baltimore, where they met with port officials and industry stakeholders to learn about port operations, logistics, innovative equipment and digital platforms, and supply chain management practices that support one of America’s key maritime gateways.
The Sri Lankan delegation included Deputy Minister of Ports & Civil Aviation, Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Direct Investment, Hanif Yusoof, Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, CEO, Shippers Academy Colombo (Pvt) Ltd, Rohan Masakorala, Chairman, Sri Lanka Logistics and Freight Forwarders Association, Andre Fernando, Chief Commercial Officer, Colombo West International Terminal, Dashma Karunaratne, Chairman, ABC Shipping (Private) Limited, John Shiran Dissanayake, Chief of Staff, Office of the Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Direct Investment, Aritha Wickramasinghe.
The forum advances the United States’ strategic interest to deepen partnerships across the Indo-Pacific, connect regional governments with U.S. private sector investment and technology, and ensure the Indo-Pacific’s critical maritime infrastructure is built on a foundation of transparency, trust, and shared prosperity.
