The inaugural meeting for the establishment of the IORA Maritime Safety and Security (MSS) Working Group was held on 8-9 August 2019 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka, this historic meeting marked the operationalization of a dedicated regional body to steer collaborative efforts on maritime security.

Member States engaged in substantive discussions to define the group's mandate and immediate work program. The central achievement was the formulation of a two-year Action Plan for 2019–2021. This plan was designed with the explicit objective of enhancing practical cooperation among member states to address a wide spectrum of threats, encompassing both traditional and non-traditional challenges to maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean. 

The establishment of the Working Group and its first Action Plan represented a major institutional step forward for IORA. It transitioned maritime security dialogue from periodic meetings to a structured, outcome-oriented process with clear responsibilities. This meeting laid the essential groundwork for sustained, collective action, ensuring that IORA could develop and implement a comprehensive regional strategy to foster a safer and more secure maritime domain.