Army launches website:

Defeating terrorism, Lankan experience

Chamikara Weerasinghe

*International conference in May

*Over 60 countries to participate

The Sri Lanka Army yesterday launched a website (www.defseminar.lk) dedicated to sharing Sri Lankan experience in defeating terrorism ahead of a three-day international conference it will hold in Colombo with over 60 countries participating to learn about the country’s success story of countering terrorism.

Army Commander Lt General Jagath Jayasuriya launched the website at the Sri Lanka Army Headquarter auditorium. The Army Commander said,the conference ‘Defeating Terrorism-Sri Lankan Experience’ was organized by the Sri Lanka Army in conformity with a decision taken by the Defence Ministry to share its insights on how to defeat terrorism on a global scale.

This is in response to numerous requests made by other nations to do so in the best interest of the world so that others may learn how best to fight terrorism.

The conference will be held from May 31 at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo with Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as the Chief Guest. The Defence Secretary will also address the sessions.

Representatives from international Non Governmental Organizations, state organizations, intellectuals and war veterans are expected to participate at the event.

It will review how Sri Lanka won its battle against terrorism, the mistakes it made in the process, the lessons it learnt, the humanitarian aspects of war, the nature of terrorism, human rights and the rehabilitation of victims. Army Commander Lt Gen Jayasuriya said they plan to explain at the conference how Sri Lankan fought terrorism and the policies and strategies it adopted in countering terrorism.

“This will be in the best interest of the world’s fight against terrorism,” he said.