Third defence seminar in September – Army Chief

Chaminda Perera

Representatives of over 62 countries will participate in the 3rd defence seminar organized by the Sri Lanka Army from September 03 – 05 at Galadari Hotel in Colombo on the theme of Post Conflict Sri Lanka – Challenges.

The first day of the seminar will focus on post conflict reconstruction, social integration and reconciliation while discussion on the second day will hinge on regional stability. The third day's session will lay emphasis on further strengthening regional stability at a global perspective with analytical approach to the Sri Lankan case study.

The keynote address will be delivered by Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. According to Army Commander Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya, the Sri Lanka Army will invite resource personnel from SAARC countries and other parts of the world.

The Army Chief was speaking at the launch of the redesigned website on the seminar www.defseminar.lk at the Army Headquarters yesterday.

The website gives details of the defence seminar which be held in September. Lt. Gen Jayasuriya added that foreign delegates can access the details of the seminar through this website.

The Army Commander said that the Sri Lanka Army organized two defence seminars successfully in 2011 and 2012 on the themes of Defeating Terrorism – The Sri Lankan Experience (2011) and Lasting Peace Towards Stability through 5Rs (2012) with the participation of many foreign delegates and defence officials.

Representatives of 44 countries participated in the defence seminar held last year and the exact number of delegates who will participate in the 2013 defence seminar would be notified when seminar is round the corner.

He said that some of the resource personnel who participated in the 2012 defence seminar will also provide their inputs to the seminar.

Lt. Gen Jayasuriya added that the leader of Janatha Party of India Subamaniam Swamy will also participate as a resource person of the seminar.

The Commander added that the Army has taken steps to invite members of independent think-tanks in the world to share their experiences and views among the participants.

“We are in the process of negotiating with the think-tanks of the world to ensure their participation as resource personnel for the seminar”, he added.

The Commander added that military officers and other ranks of many countries have started following courses offered by the Sri Lanka Army.

Many foreign students told me that our method of teaching is based on experience and they want to learn them too, he said.