The Island
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The conference held last Friday and Saturday was attended by local and foreign scholars and experts in maritime and naval affairs, who shared their views on enhancing maritime cooperation.
On the initiative of the Secretary Ministry of Defence, the Sri Lanka Navy organised the maritime conference under the theme ‘Charting the Course for Sustainable Maritime Security Cooperation’. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa delivered the inaugural address. The welcome remarks were made by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe. Senior Research Fellow for South Asia, National Defence University, USA and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asia Pacific Security Affairs 2007 – 2009, Professor James Clad delivered the keynote address. Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretaries of Ministries of External Affairs, Ports and Aviation and Highways and Road Development, Service Commanders, Director General Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Defence Attaches, Government Officials and Sri Lankan scholars in the maritime field attended the dialogue. The web site www.galledialogue.com was also launched. The local and foreign scholars and experts shared their views at the two-day dialogue. They were impressed with the fruitful conclusion of the event. External Affairs Minister Professor G. L. Peiris graced the conference banquet held on Friday as the chief guest.
Making the concluding remarks, with his views "all onboard to collaborate for secure seas" the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe stated that that gathering of brilliant and penetrating Naval and maritime minds under one roof was one giant step forward towards a continuous dialogue to reach consensus for a common end. The exchange of ideas and sharing of experience, the Commander emphasised, would enhance the knowledge, trust, confidence and friendship to chart the courses of success to keep the strategic sea routes safe and secure for the economic development and betterment of mankind. On behalf of the Secretary of Defence, Admiral Samarasinghe expressed his profound gratitude to the participants for their presence and thanked all who helped in numerous ways to make the inaugural dialogue a success.
Twenty-two (22) delegates specialised in maritime strategy from ten (10) countries namely, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa and USA, attended the conference. Participating scholars and experts who presented papers at the maritime conference were Admiral (retd) Arun Prakash, Chairman, National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi and former Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, Dr. Rohan Gunarathna, Professor of Security Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, D. R. Thomas - Deputy Chief of Royal Australian Navy, Commodore Jamil Akhtar, Pakistan Navy, Brigadier General Stanley Osterman, Director J-5, US Pacific Command, Hawaii, Admiral (retd) WKJ Karannagoda, the Secretary to Ministry of Highways and Road Development and former Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Dr. W. Lawrence S. Prabhakar, Associate Professor, Madras Christian College, Chennai , India, Chris Dharmakirthi, Director, Strategic Enterprise Management Agency (SEMA), Sri Lanka, Captain Chris Chambers, US Navy, Chief of Staff, Combined Maritime Forces, Rear Admiral JSK Colombage, Commander Eastern Naval Area, Sri Lanka Navy.
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