The Ambassador and the diplomatic staff had an online meeting with the President of the Mersin Chamber of Shipping (MDTO), Cihat Lokmanoğlu on 10 February 2026.
The discussion focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the maritime sector between Sri Lanka and Türkiye. During the meeting, the Ambassador highlighted Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean, its role as an efficient maritime hub, and the country’s well-established boat- and shipbuilding industry, elaborating Sri Lanka’s potential as a key partner for regional and international maritime operations.
The Ambassador also emphasized the importance of pursuing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Mersin Chamber of Shipping and relevant Sri Lankan institutions to expand maritime services and institutional collaboration. Opportunities for cadetship placements for Sri Lankan seafarers on Turkish vessels, promotion of the Sri Lankan flag as a flag of convenience for Turkish ships, and collaboration with Sri Lanka’s maritime, boat, and shipbuilding stakeholders were also discussed.
Acknowledging Sri Lanka’s strategic importance, the President of MDTO expressed interest in pursuing potential collaborations with Sri Lankan counterparts.
The Mersin Chamber of Shipping (MDTO) represents over 650 maritime and port-related companies in Mersin Province of Türkiye and plays a key role in sector coordination and member support within Türkiye’s maritime trade and logistics ecosystem.