Sri Lanka on Monday (May 19) joined South Asia Regional Port Security Cooperative (SARPSCO) to help fight terrorism and criminal activity in the Indian Ocean region by improving port and maritime safety.

The SARPSCO launched in Maldives brings together countries sharing waters of the Indian Ocean: Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Madagascar, the Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The United States is pledging to support the new multination initiative, although it will not be a member.