Sri Lanka, Feb. 9 -- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says the Indian Ocean Region's stability requires an early end to the Gaza war followed by the establishment within 5 years of an Independent Palestine State and a guarantee for the security of the state of Israel.

He made this remark while delivering the keynote address at the 7th Indian Ocean Conference in Perth, Australia on Friday (Feb.09).

Wickremesinghe hit out at the United States for supporting the war in the densely populated Palestinian enclave. "The ill-advised judgment of the US in supporting the Gaza war will diminish its influence in the [Indian Ocean] region."

Commenting further, the President emphasized that the hostility of the countries forming the Islamic Arch in th...