Sri Lanka participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) held on 11 June 2025 in Penang, Malaysia. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Ms. Sashikala Premawardhane, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism of Sri Lanka with the participation of Mr. M.I. Mohamed Rizvi, Acting High Commissioner and senior official from the Ministry.
The ARF SOM brought together senior officials from ASEAN member states and regional partners to review progress on regional cooperation and shared priorities. The meeting served as a platform to assess ongoing ARF initiatives and enhance collaborative efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.
Sri Lanka, an active participant in the ARF since 2007, reaffirmed its commitment to multilateral dialogue and regional security cooperation. Over the years, Sri Lanka has contributed to various ARF-led activities, including initiatives on non-proliferation and disarmament, defence and strategic studies, maritime security, and disaster relief. The ARF SOS meeting in Penang also provided a valuable opportunity for the Sri Lankan delegation to engage with Southeast Asian counterparts and dialogue partners through exchanges views and networking.
The ARF plays a pivotal role in fostering trust, strengthening political-security cooperation, and promoting preventive diplomacy among its 27 participating countries. Sri Lanka’s continued participation in ARF activities underscores its strong commitment to constructive multilateralism, regional dialogue, and collective efforts to address shared challenges in Southeast Asia and beyond.