Military confab concludes:

Sri Lankan Forces take a bow:

Hailed as among the best in the world

Sandasen Marasinghe

The military officers who attended the three day international seminar ‘Defeating Terrorism - Sri Lankan Experience’ were unanimous that Sri Lanka’s Security Forces were among the best in the world considering the strategies that were used and their humane aspect during the humanitarian operation.

They made these observations during the panel discussion after the seminar organized by the Sri Lanka Army led by Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya directed by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, came to an end at the Galadari Hotel yesterday.

The Pakistan Military representative General Abdul Wadood thanked the security forces of Sri Lanka, the people and the government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa for securing the security of the region.

He went on to thank the organizers for providing this opportunity to share the Sri Lanka’s experience and making arrangements to conduct the seminar openly.

Dr David Kilcullan during the seminar stated that Sri Lanka has made a very good beginning to prevent the country going back to a civil war whereas most of the other countries that brought civil wars to an end haven’t been successful in this regard even after decades. He added that the Sri Lanka has showed the world how the job could be done.

The Military Representative of Brazil Colonel Severino Paixao stated that the security forces have ended the operation in a well organized manner and was excellent the manner they engaged in dealing with the matters such as rehabilitation, reconciliation after the elimination of terrorism.

The Military Representative of Sudan Brigadier Mohamed Ibrahim said that they were suffering from a same kind of terrorit menace.

He added that he thought if they tried the same process in their country they too could solve their problem. He also said that it was commendable the manner in which the President of Sri Lanka handled the international pressure against the operation.

The Military Representative of Maldive Islands Brigadier Zakergya Mansoor stated that the elimination of terrorism from Sri Lanka by the security forces guarantees the security of the entire region.

He said that the Maldives government faced the problem of terrorism in 1988 when a terrorist group attempted to overthrow the legitimate government. The seminar was of great beneficial to combat an insurgency situation.

The Military Representative of Iran Colonel K H La Jevaroi stated that the victory over terrorism by Sri Lankan forces was a massive achievement made by a small army in the world. He also said that the seminar was also well organized and every detail in the seminar was of great beneficial.

The reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliations made by the security forces set an example to the entire world.