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Australia and Sri Lanka Naval Cooperation in the Indian Ocean: prospective extensive collaboration By Arundathie Abeysinghe Australia and Sri Lanka have a robust and enduring bilateral relationship of 74 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in May 1947. The Asia Pacific Nation and South Asian Island have close foreign relations from May 1947 to date.  Australia’s expanding naval footprint in the Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as well as naval engagement between Canberra and Colombo indicates the expansion of maritime relationships across the Indo-Pacific which has transpired as a new geopolitical theatre.     Australia’s defense cooperation with Sri Lanka since March 2019 indicates the stable development of intra-regional security collaboration in IOR. As such, on March 11, 2019, a Joint Task Force of four Royal Australian Navy ships, the Royal Australian Air Force as well as 1,000 military personnel arrived in Sri ...