5th Annual Civil Affairs Seminar Ends in Certificate Awarding Ceremony

The closing ceremony of the ten-day long 5th annual Advanced South Asia’s Regional Civil Affairs Seminar - 2017, organized jointly by the Army Directorate of Psychological Operations and the US Embassy of Sri Lanka took place a few days ago at Hotel Taj Samudra, Colombo.

The 10-day seminar, designed with the intention of providing a broader exposure on civil relations to tri-service military personnel in the South Asian region was attended by 30 representatives from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Major General Amal Karunasekara, Chief of Staff of the Army graced the closing ceremony as the Chief Guest and delivered closing remarks. HE Athul Keshap, US Ambassador for Sri Lanka and the Maldives inaugurated the sessions on the first day of the Seminar as the Chief Guest.

A total of 30 Foreign Officers, 40 Army Officers, 3 Air Force Officers, 3 Navy Officers and 3 Navy Coastal Guard Officers attended this Seminar, intended to promote understanding between civilians and members of the armed forces. The Seminar focused largely on ‘Introduction to Human Rights & Fundamental Rights,’ ‘Development of Better Relations through Civil Affairs,’ ‘Legal Aspects,’ ‘Exposures in Media for Civil Affairs,’ etc.

Major General Amal Karunasekara as the Chief Guest in the final closing ceremony awarded certificates to the Seminar attendees. Several officials representing foreign embassies were also present during the awarding ceremony, together with Brigadier Mangala Wijesundara, Director, Directorate of Psychological Operations of the Army, Senior Officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force and other agencies.