All arrangements have been finalized to hold the 5th Defence Seminar - 2015 under the theme ‘National Security in the Context of Emerging Global Threats’, at Colombo Galadari Hotel during September 1 - 2, 2015, the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva said Wednesday (26) afternoon during a Media briefing at Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME) auditorium in Colombo 2.
“For any military in the world, national security is the priority and all military officers are therefore committed to preserve it. This forum discusses and exchanges views on matters of security concern to the region as well as to the world, taking current global trends into consideration. The Army has gained recognition for conduct of this interactive dialogue since its founding in 2011. This has enabled us to get a better exposure and the ever swelling numbers attending it every year itself is a testimony to this global recognition”, the Commander said.
This seminar has also contributed to strengthening of our mutual bonds of goodwill with all supporting the country and its armed forces. “We have extended invitations to the US ambassador and a number of diplomats. Ambassadors for China and Pakistan are among invited speakers to the sessions. The Army in the past six years after the war reached high degree of professionalism through the experiences and special training sessions conducted. It is this professionalism which has brought commendation to the organization,” the Commander pointed out.
This year’s comprehensive two-day sessions while mainly focusing on 'National Security in the Context of Emerging Global Threats' are segmented into nine separate sessions under sub themes, such as ‘Nature of Threats Affecting the National Security of a Nation’, ‘Emerging World Order’, ‘Terrorism and Challenges to National Security’ and ‘Non-military Threats to National Security’ etc and the seminar is to be attended by 350 invitees, including 66 foreign delegates.
“Sri Lanka is now one of the most peaceful countries but we all have to be alert to global threats, be it drug peddling, human trafficking, manmade and natural disasters, terrorism or whatever it is. It could become a threat at any moment. Sri Lankan armed forces have proved beyond doubt that they are professionally skilled and qualified to take on any challenge,” Lieutenant General De Silva explained.
He also attributed the presence of the former President of Afghanistan as the keynote speaker to the inaugural sessions as a very notable feature in this year’s arrangements. He would be one of the most suitable persons to comment on the Seminar’s main theme, 'National Security in the Context of Emerging Global Threats', the Commander added.
The seminar sessions, led by panelists of international fame, would guarantee a wide scope of thought-provoking and lively interactive sessions in a milieu of professional candour and intellectual understanding, he further said.
Referring to the previous seminars and their outcome, the Commander said that some of the speakers and attendees are annually taking part in the forum with enthusiasm. We have selected a wide gathering of local speakers as we did in the previous years, the Commander said responding to a media query.
It also enables delegates to see for themselves the degree of social and economic stability the country has gained in the aftermath of the humanitarian operations in the year 2009,” the Commander added.
Major General Jagath Dias adding a few words to the occasion told the Media that one should not forget the fact that Army personnel who had been serving the north in the aftermath of the war had never been accused of any wrong-doing. Instead, those northern people have been reaching us for assistance all the time. That fact proves how effective our professional conduct is right throughout.
Major General Jagath Dias, Chief of Staff, Major General U.A.B Medawela, Commander, Security Force Headquarters - West, Major General B.A Perera, Director General General Staff, Major General Mahesh Senanayake, Military Secretary, Brigadier Aruna Jayasekara, Director Training and Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera, Director Media at the Army Headquarters, were associated with the briefing on Wednesday (26).
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