SRI LANKA — The Maritime Industry Authority-Enforcement Service (MARINA-ES) participated in the Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) 2nd Steering Committee Session, facilitated by the invitation and sponsorship of the EU CRIMARIO program.

Throughout the two-day event, attendees engaged in plenary sessions and working groups, tackling significant issues such as the future ownership of the IORIS platform, strategic priorities, regional cooperation on information sharing, and the importance of engaging external stakeholders.

A key focus of the event was the announcement of the development of IORIS Version 4 and a new “lite” version for merchant ships. Martin Cauchi Inglott, Project Director of CRIMARIO II, reiterated the program’s commitment to enhancing the platform with valuable new features. Discussions also included the formalization of IORIS Regional Community Areas as part of the Regional Standard Operating Procedure and the introduction of a signing process for the Memorandum of Agreement on regional information sharing.

Participants emphasized the need for collaborative solutions to address legal, operational, and technical challenges related to platform usage, particularly concerning sensitive information sharing.

At the closing ceremony, it was announced that the next IORIS Steering Committee Meeting will take place in the Philippines, signaling ongoing collaboration in maritime governance.

The Philippine delegation included MARINA representatives Dr. Jinky M. Mendoza and Mr. Dalmacio Gonzales, along with inter-agency representatives from the National Coast Watch Center (NCWC) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

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