Defence Seminar from Aug 8 to 10

Yasaratne GAMAGE

Pakistan’s Defence Secretary here today

Pakistan’s Defence Secretary Lt Gen (Retd) Asif Yasin Malik, will be in Sri Lanka from August 7 to 11. Lt Gen (Retd) Malik will hold discussions with Lankan defence hierarchy, a Pakistan High Commission release said.

The Defence Secretary will also address Defence Seminar 2012. Major General Ghulam Qamar and Brigadier Hamayun Aziz of the Pakistan Army will also attend the seminar. During the seminar, two Pakistani defence equipment manufacturing firms will exhibit their products.

All arrangements have been finalised for the Defence Seminar 2012 which will be held in Colombo from August 8 to 10 under the theme ‘Towards lasting peace and stability’. Resettlement, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Reconciliation will be the subjects covered under the given theme.

Local and foreign politicians, diplomats, academics and military officers are due to address the audience.

Over 100 foreign participants, including embassy staff based in Sri Lanka representing 42 countries are due to attend the seminar along with about 150 local invitees.

Several defence advisors based in Sri Lanka and India will be the participants.

Three foreign military chiefs are also due to attend. Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said there has been a good response from the international community this year and over 40 countries will be represented. Speakers from the US, UK, India and Pakistan will make presentations while politicians, bureaucrats, local as well as foreign intellectuals and serving and retired local and foreign military personnel will deliver speeches.

Rehabilitated ex- combatants are also due to perform dance acts. One of them will also speak on his life experiences during the seminar. Participants from Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, China, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Uganda, UK, USA, Vietnam and Senegal are among those who have confirmed participation , the military spokesman said.

The programme on the first day starts with the welcome address by Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya while the keynote address will be by Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

There will be a documentary on the ‘five Rs ‘-reconstruction, resettlement, rehabilitation, reintegration and reconciliation followed by a speech by External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris.