By: Staff Writer Colombo (LNW): The 4th Round of Foreign Office Bilateral Consultations, Second Strategic Maritime Dialogue and the Third Joint Trade and Investment Committee Meeting between Sri Lanka and Australia took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says. These meetings were co-chaired by First Assistant Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia Gary Cowan, Additional Secretary (Bilateral East) Yasoja Gunasekera and Additional Secretary (Economic Affairs) Shanika Dissanayake of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security A.M.P.M.B. Atapattu. During the discussions, new avenues for increased institutional cooperation in the defence, agriculture, cyber security and education sectors were identified, the foreign affairs ministry said in a statement. Meanwhile, the both sides have agreed to work together to strengthen regional cooperation, including through the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).Discussions also took place on strengthening trade and investment ties, it added. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo was the venue for a significant meeting between Sri Lanka and Australia on July 12, 2023. This meeting marked the 4th round of the Foreign Office Bilateral Consultations, the second Strategic Maritime Dialogue, and the third Joint Trade and Investment Committee Meeting between the two nations. The gatherings were held with the aim to strengthen mutual cooperation and create a roadmap for future collaboration in various sectors. During the consultations, the focus was drawn towards identifying new paths for enhanced institutional collaboration in several sectors including defense, agriculture, cybersecurity, and education. The discussions yielded productive results as both countries saw common ground in these fields, and agreed to work on potential joint initiatives. Furthermore, both nations also expressed an intent to solidify regional cooperation, underlining the role of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). By involving this key regional body, they hoped to address shared challenges and achieve common goals. This mutual understanding and willingness to collaborate sets the foundation for what could become a stronger strategic partnership in the Indian Ocean region.