Emphasising the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lankan Member of Parliament Sujeewa Senasinghe delivered a keynote address at the NXT Conclave 2026 on strengthening sea trade and transshipment links between India and Sri Lanka.
Tracing the history of maritime commerce, Senasinghe noted that ancient trade hubs such as Petra, Alexandria, and Constantinople once shaped global trade, while South India had been exporting spices like cinnamon and pepper along ancient trade routes nearly 3,000 years ago.
Highlighting the modern relevance of the Indian Ocean, he said it accounts for 44 percent of the world’s surface and carries nearly 70 percent of global shipborne energy trade. Senasinghe stressed that ports in both countries should complement rather than compete with each other, citing Sri Lankan ports such as Hambantota Port, Port of Colombo and Kankesanthurai Harbour as key regional connectivity hubs.
He also highlighted Sri Lanka’s renewable energy potential, stating the island could generate up to 60 gigawatts of wind power, part of which could be transmitted to India to support its growing energy demand. Senasinghe added that stronger maritime and energy cooperation could reduce India’s dependence on volatile global oil markets while boosting regional prosperity.
