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U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Robert Scher arrived to speak at an international maritime conference in southern Sri Lanka, an official statement said here on Monday. Titled the "Galle Dialogue" the international maritime conference started on Monday in the southern city of Galle and Scher will present U.S. perspectives on security in the Indian Ocean. While in Galle, Scher will meet with Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other government officials, the statement released by the U.S. embassy in Sri Lanka said. Scher is expected to highlight the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, discuss opportunities for defense cooperation in the areas of demining, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The Galle Dialogue presents an opportunity for countries in the region to discuss new opportunities for cooperation. ThU.S. recognizes the importance of multilateral approaches to promote security in the Indian Ocean and aims to expand cooperation with regional partners, the statement said.