Major General N.A.J.C Dias, Chairperson in the Session One on the subject ‘Treading the Path of Unity’ on Wednesday (4) opened the session with a contribution towards the notion of ‘National Security’ where three other panelists took part.
“If a Nation forgets its past, it is certainly not focused to face the future. I do not intend to go by the saying history repeats but for sure in order to avoid the recurrence of bad experiences. In the past a Nation must take good note of what happened to them and be comprehensively prepared to face the future,” Major General Dias observed in his opening remarks.
National security is an uncompromising element that assures the survival of the state and simply the means by which the Nation’s aspirations for prosperity and national well-being is facilitated. In the holistic sense, national security is the foundation of the freedom and prosperity of a state. Unlike in the past, today national security does not constitute a total military approach but a balance between diplomacy, economic, social and physical security. Nevertheless military strategy still holds prominence encompassing all domains, such as ground, air, space, cyber and maritime, he said.
So we realize the wisdom of the saying that “Development without security is not possible and security without development is temporary,” he added.
The National Security of Sri Lanka needs to be addressed in context of the history of this country and the realities of its present situation, and most critically from the perspective of several obligations of the state. The state must ensure that the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of the nation is maintained, and that there are no threats to the safety of her population. Ensuring economic growth, so that the people of the country can uplift their standards of living is also critical in order to prevent internal problems, recurring in the future. Creating a favourable environment for Sri Lanka internationally is similarly of utmost importance in keeping adverse external influence at bay. Securing the safety of our physical assets and safeguarding the nation’s democracy are also critical. Considering this overall context, it is clear that National Security must be understood within a unified, single framework that integrates the nation’s Defence, Law & Order, Foreign, and Economic Policy. These four areas need to come together in the creation of a comprehensive National Security Strategy. This is essential if Sri Lanka to consolidate her present peace and stability and realise its potential, he pointed out.
Sri Lanka today is marching steadily in her quest for development. The ‘5 - Hub’ strategy adopted by the Government, which envisions the development of Sri Lanka into a knowledge hub, commercial hub, naval & maritime hub, aviation hub and an energy hub, is at the centrepiece of a policy, designed to translate this growth into sustainable economic development. This transformation will not only bring enormous development to Sri Lanka but also present Sri Lanka as a major economic power house in the unravelling Asian Renaissance.
During a time span of four years from the day the conflict ended, to-date, most significant post-war National Security challenges including the revival of democracy have been accomplished. The challenges that loom in the horizon and needed to be taken care of domestically are:
a. Preventing the re-emergence of terrorism.
b. Establishing effective methods to project Sri Lanka to the international community.
c. Suppressing the emergence of other extremist groups.
d. Preventing further ethnic division and communal violence.
e. Challenges of maritime security and border control.
f. Curtailing the growth of organised crime, and
g. New challenges in safeguarding a just and wholesome democracy.
He went on; “In addition to these domestic challenges there are the geo-politics issues that stem from the strategic disposition of Sri Lanka linked closely to the global drivers of conflict. Amidst these, it is of vital importance for all of us to protect the peace that has been regained after so long and at such cost. We must stand firm and not allow anyone to drive this country back to the state it was in during the past thirty years, he asserted.
As a nation, Sri Lanka has had more than its fair share of suffering. We must all work together to put the past behind us, and work towards a brighter future for this nation and all her people, he concluded.
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