The informative and intellectual forum of the world-wide experts, the ‘Defence Seminar - 2015’ organized by the Sri Lanka Army drew to a close Wednesday (2) evening with the collective discourse that 'National Security in the Context of Emerging Global Threats' is a prioritized area of attention for all the nations in the face of looming multi-dimensional threats.
68 foreign delegates representing 36 countries, in addition to members of the diplomatic corps, based in Colombo and elsewhere, the Seminar proved itself to be a resounding success for the 5th consecutive year with a marathon participation of more than 360 participants, including a mammoth group of Media personnel at the inaugural sessions.
With all meticulous preparations intact, the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva’s vote of thanks as the heavyweight behind its success after the concluding address of Dr Chris Nonis, President’s Advisor on International Affairs and former High Commissioner for UK, brought the sessions to the formal conclusion.
“Your presence reflects the confidence you have placed in us, the Sri Lanka Army and it is important to understand that there is a requirement to live and let live with security, no matter where you live. Your smiling and eager faces endorse that those thought-provoking and fruitful ideas and discussions have enlightened you further on the subject of security. I request you to keep in touch with us in the future, too as our interests are common,” raising the vote of thanks, the Commander added, wishing all the delegates good luck back home.
Chief of Defence Staff, Commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force, prior to the formal closure of the sessions came on to the stage to present tokens of appreciation and certificates of participation to all foreign delegates at the invitation of the moderator, Brigadier Aruna Jayasekara, Director Training at the Army Headquarters.
This year’s final sessions unlike in previous years deviated from the stereotype and broke into four separate network sessions in order to prepare their own collective observations within a time frame of 90 minutes before their findings were articulated through an appointed spokesperson.
In the final expert panel discussions, the topics, ‘Challenges to Military and Multinational Task Forces in Disaster Management,’ ‘The Changing Contours of Terrorism and Security Challenges,’ ‘Trends in the Field of Conflict; Analysis on Old Causes and new Dynamics,’ and ‘Factors Influencing Migration, Population Movements and National Security,’ were taken up for evaluation and such deliberations evoked much interest and enthusiasm.
Prof. Rashed Uz Zaman, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, Major General Boniface Perera, Commander, Security Force Headquarters, Wanni, Mr. Asanga Abeyagoonasekara, Former Director, Lakshaman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies, Dr Matteo Legrenzi, Associate Professor of International Relations School of International Relations, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Major General Udaya Perera, Commandant, Difence Service Command and Staff College, Mr Nihal Rodrigo, Former Secretary General of SAARC, Mr Christoper Coker, Professor of International Relations at London School of Economics, Air Vice Marshal Sumangala Dias, Dr Sinharaja Tammita Delgoda, Director, Bandaranaike Centre for International Study, Mr. Muhammad Abbas Hassan, Lecture Department of Management Science & Department of Earth Science, Bahria University, Islamabad and Rear Admiral Weththewa of Sri Lanka Navy served as experts in the panels that dwelt on specific subjects as mentioned in the above paragraph.
Major General Udaya Perera, one of the contributors in the final Experts Panel, presenting his views under ‘Changing Contours of Terrorism and Security Challenges’ feared that next threat of terrorism would emanate from ‘Clash of Civilizations’ as what we are witnessing today at global sphere.
He noted that the International Community should come together to prevent the 5th wave of terrorism in the offing as mentioned before since contours of terrorism have changed their facets in the course of the past century.
“The terrorism converts itself into different waves, lately ‘Ethnicity and Religion’ and in the past it was Marxism, Colonialism, etc. History appears to be repeating. What we now see is the clash of civilization, like what we experienced in the past,” Major General Udaya Perera quipped saying that Sri Lanka could be the only country which has experienced and overcame all these waves of terrorism.
Groups ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’ ‘D’ composed of all participating experts later on presented their evaluations and recommendations to the assembly through their representatives, touching on subjects, like ‘Challenges of External Support,’ ‘Shared Threat Perceptions,’ ‘Obstacles to Information Sharing,’ ‘Factors Influencing Migration,’ etc. The panel was chaired by Mr Nihal Rodrigo, a veteran in foreign affairs.
‘Defence Seminar - 2015’ aimed at promoting regional and international discourse on security perspectives after the country has shifted its momentum towards development and prosperity upon the culmination of war for peace in 2009, thus came to a successful completion Wednesday (2) evening with inspiring insights.
The conduct of the annual ‘Defence Seminar’ has found a niche for itself in global calendar of international forums since its founding in the year 2011.
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