At the 2nd Indian Ocean Conference, 31 July – 1 August 2017, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled their position that a code of conduct upon the freedom of navigation and overflight was necessary for the Indian Ocean. The Prime Minister noted “Sri Lanka will soon commence exploratory discussions on convening a meeting to deliberate on a stable legal order on freedom of navigation and over flight in the Indian Ocean”.
For more information see the ministry of foreign affairs statement, and prime minster’s speech (unofficial transcript). Further insight may be provided by a previous speech on the matter at Deakin University.
De Maribus 