New Delhi, May 21: Taking the Indian Navy’s initiative a step further to increase maritime cooperation among navies/maritime agencies in the Indian Ocean Region, the Sri Lanka Navy is hosting IONS Technical Seminar 2009 in which delegates of thirty-four nations are participating.

The IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium) provides a forum for discussion of issues, both regional and global. The Indian Navy wants to generate a flow of information and opinion between naval professionals.

The IONS came into existence as a consequence of the deliberations made by the commanders of the navies around the Indian Ocean who gathered in India in February 2008 at the invitation of Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta.

The seminar conducted by the Lankan Navy under the theme of ‘Practical Cooperative Mechanisms for Technical Support within the Indian Ocean. It is being held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on May 21-22.

Sri Lanka Navy, which extends its unstinting support for IONS, is showing its commitment to maintain the regional momentum generated through the regional maritime security initiative alive by hosting the technical seminar, which is expected to enhance the cooperation among regional navies.

The technical seminar will focus its attention on formulation of standards for interoperability and technical cooperation between IONS countries, understanding procedures, maintenance and repair methodologies being followed in IONS countries.

It is expected that the IONS Technical Seminar will provide a conducive platform for the participants to deliberate upon technical issues, which come under the IONS mandate and in turn enhance the friendship and professional cooperation among the Navies of the Indian Ocean Region.

By conducting the Technical Seminar in Sri Lanka, it is believed that the country as a whole and the Sri Lanka Navy in particular can achieve greater acceptance among regional navies. (ANI)