The Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala, represented Sri Lanka at the First BIMSTEC Home Ministers’ Meeting held in New Delhi, India, on 13 October 2026, reaffirming the country’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in addressing shared security challenges across the Bay of Bengal region.
The inaugural meeting, hosted by the Government of India under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, brought together representatives of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The meeting adopted the Delhi Declaration, setting out strategic directions for enhanced regional cooperation in security and law enforcement.
In his statement, Minister Wijepala underscored that security is fundamental to sustainable economic and social development, emphasising the importance of enabling people to live in peace, travel safely and conduct business in a secure environment.
Highlighting Sri Lanka’s approach to public security, the Minister outlined the Government’s efforts to strengthen institutions, improve coordination among law enforcement agencies and address crime through prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation. He emphasised the importance of public confidence, community participation and protecting children and young people from drugs, violence and exploitation.
Addressing illicit drugs, Minister Wijepala highlighted the cross-border nature of drug trafficking and its links to organised criminal networks, international transport routes, financial flows and modern communication technologies. He referred to Sri Lanka’s national drug prevention programme, Ratama Ekata, and stressed the importance of integrating law enforcement with prevention, rehabilitation and community engagement.
The Minister emphasised that national efforts alone were insufficient to address transnational threats, calling for timely information-sharing, stronger institutional cooperation and practical collaboration among BIMSTEC Member States. He also highlighted the need for cooperation in combating cybercrime, financial crime, human trafficking, migrant smuggling and criminal activities conducted through maritime routes, stressing that regional commitments must translate into tangible outcomes through coordinated action and timely information-sharing.
The Delhi Declaration reaffirmed the commitment of BIMSTEC Member States to building a connected, secure, resilient, developed and prosperous region. It recognised the transnational nature of security challenges in the Bay of Bengal region and called for enhanced cooperation against terrorism, violent extremism conducive to terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, terrorist financing, cybercrime and transnational organised crime. It also emphasised the effective implementation of existing BIMSTEC legal instruments, the early finalisation of proposed conventions, enhanced information-sharing, and specialised training and capacity-building. Further areas of cooperation included mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, extradition, the transfer of sentenced persons, and coordinated action against human trafficking and illicit financial flows.
The meeting was preceded by the First Meeting of BIMSTEC Senior Officials of Home Ministries on 12 October 2026, which reviewed progress in regional security cooperation and considered initiatives relating to human trafficking, anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, drug control and disaster management.
Sri Lanka’s participation reflected its continued commitment to BIMSTEC as a platform for regional collaboration, recognising that stronger security cooperation contributes to public safety, stability, development and prosperity across the Bay of Bengal region.
High Commission of Sri Lanka
New Delhi
21 October 2026
