The Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake delivered a keynote on Transport Connectivity as the Foundation of a New World Order, emphasizing a shift from global competition to universal security at the International Transport and Logistics Forum in St. Petersburg. In addressing the Forum the Minister emphasized that true security rests on interconnected infrastructure such as deep-sea cables, high capacity ports, and seamless logistics that hinder conflict and promote peace through interdependence. 

He underscored Sri Lanka’s strategic role in expanding Colombo Port as a global public good and advancing digitalization to reduce turnaround times and stabilize supply chains. Recognizing that no single nation or port can unlock regional potential alone, the Minister called for collaborative approaches that link South Asia, ASEAN, China, Russia, and beyond. Framed within the broader vision of the New Silk Roads and the North-South Transport Corridor, Sri Lanka positions itself as a critical gateway in the Eurasian land bridge, advocating for inclusive, multilateral efforts to achieve shared prosperity and resilience in the transport sector.

Minister Rathnayake also participated in a panel discussion at the Forum, titled “The Greater Eurasian Partnership: Strengthening Transport and Logistics Connectivity for Prosperity.” During the panel discussion, Minister Rathnayake underscored Sri Lanka’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean and its growing role as a regional connectivity hub. He reiterated the importance of reinforcing Sri Lanka’s aviation collaboration with Russia and pursuing year-round direct flights to enhance bilateral air links. He also highlighted the potential benefits of Eurasia’s transport system for both large nations and smaller, strategically important countries like Sri Lanka, and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s readiness to collaborate with international partners to strengthen Eurasian and global connectivity. 

The panel discussion was attended by a distinguished list of panelists, including Burak Aikan, Director General, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye; Gennady Bessonov, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Coordinating Transport Meeting of the CIS Member States; Kazem Jalali, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation; Dmitry Zverev, State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation; Vladimir Panov, Special Representative for the Development of the Arctic; Yuriy Petrov, Advisor to the General Director, Directorate of International Transport Corridors; and Andrey Slepnev, Member of the Board, Minister in Charge of Trade, Eurasian Economic Commission.