The Center of Excellence (CoE) intends to serve as a collaborative initiative involving institutions specializing in ocean sciences and environment across the Indian Ocean Rim Countries. Its scope will encompass fundamental and applied research spanning diverse aspects of ocean sciences and environment in the Indian ocean.

In addition to its research and governance role, the CoE is committed to forging and facilitating strong partnerships with academic, governmental, practitioners and policy-making bodies across the region. This collaboration will support the region’s efforts in understanding and managing the marine environment, ultimately contributing to the well-being of all member states.

As conceptualized by former Deputy Foreign Minister Githanjana Gunwardena, the Government of Sri Lanka submitted a proposal for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Ocean Sciences and Environment under the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) during the 10^th Council of Ministers’ meeting in Yemen in 2010, which was adopted at the 14^th meeting in Perth in 2014. Following this, in 2014, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Government of Sri Lanka approved the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for ocean science and environment at the Ocean University of Sri Lanka. Since the adoption and the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the proposal, the progress in establishing the Centre of Excellence experienced delays; however, Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to the initiative has ensured the CoE continues to move forward.

The CoE will be developed in phases, beginning with a digital platform that leverages state-of-the-art technology to facilitate regional cooperation and knowledge exchange. As the CoE evolves, it will transform into a hybrid facility to enhance engagement with Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) member states and global stakeholders. This phased approach ensures that the CoE grows sustainably, with annual reviews to assess progress and plan the next stages of development. Following the planning of a smart CoE, Prof. Wasantha Rathnayake, Vice Chancellor of Ocean University, delivered a presentation on the CoE’s operationalization digitally at the 26^th Senior Officials Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in May 2024.

Sri Lanka is proud to lead and host this initiative, which will play a crucial role in promoting ocean sciences and fostering collaborative efforts to protect and sustainably manage the Indian Ocean.