Sri Lanka, Sept. 21 -- The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) has reaffirmed Sri Lanka's longstanding commitment to ensuring that the Indian Ocean remains a zone of peace, open to cooperation and free from conflict, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) addressing the high profile gathering at the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in China, also emphasized the significance of collective dialogue, regional cooperation, and mutual respect in addressing global and regional security challenges.

He said, "We should take seriously the legitimate security concerns of every country and promote peaceful settlement of differences and dis...