Colombo (AsiaNews) – Today, Sri Lanka "is one of the most peaceful countries in the world. But the army is still on alert against global threats such as drug or human trafficking, natural disasters and terrorism,” said Lieutenant General Chirshanthe De Silva, Commander of the Sri Lankan Army.
The latter spoke yesterday at a press conference presenting the fifth Defence Seminar, set to take place on 1-2 September at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo. Some 350 delegates from 66 countries are expected to attend. The topic will be ‘National Security in the Context of Emerging Global Threats’.
"National security is the priority of any army, anywhere in the world. And soldiers are committed to preserve it,” Commander De Silvia said. “At this forum, we shall discuss and exchange ideas on issues related to security in the region and throughout the world, taking current global trends into consideration."
The Sri Lankan army chief added that the seminar will help boost ties of good will with all those who support the country and its armed forces.
"We have extended invitations to the US ambassador and a number of diplomats. The ambassadors of China and Pakistan are among invited speakers,” the commander said.
“In the past six years, following the end of the war,* we reached a high degree of professionalism,” he explained. “This has brought commendation to the organisation”.
The seminar will include nine separate sessions, each addressing key issues, like the 'Nature of threats affecting the national security of a nation,' the 'Emerging World Order,', 'Terrorism and challenges to national security,' and 'Non-military threats to national security'.
De Silvia noted that soldiers employed in northern Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the war were never charged, despite calls to this effect.
* The Sri Lankan Civil War was fought by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, also known as the Tamil Tigers) and the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka. It ended with the Tamil Tigers' defeat in 2009.
