Global powers to participate in Sri Lanka defence seminar on defeating terrorism

Colombo Page
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Several powerful countries are sending delegations to participate in a seminar organized by the Sri Lanka Army to share its experience on defeating the three decades long terrorism in the country.

Sri Lanka Army will host a three-day seminar from May 31 to June 2 on 'Defeating Terrorism - The Sri Lanka Experience' at Colombo Galadari Hotel.

The Russian Federation, plagued with terrorism in Chechnya will send six delegates, the highest number of participants from one country, to the seminar.

India will send three Colonels to take part in the seminar while a Major General will lead the Pakistan delegation. A Lieutenant General is to lead the Bangladesh delegation.

China, the emerging global power will have two of its defence companies Chinese Poly technologies and China Electrical and Technologies Corporation displaying their products at the three-day event.

The two Chinese companies have sponsored a major portion of the cost of the seminar which is about 45 million rupees, the Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya has said.

As many as 54 countries have been invited initially and 42 of them are sending over 300 delegates including defence personnel, commanders, experts, professionals, academics and senior military officials, the Army Commander said at a press conference held today.

"To date, a total of 42 countries have so far confirmed their participation. More are expected to respond within the next few days," he added.

Several eminent speakers including terrorism experts are scheduled to address the seminar. During these sessions Sri Lanka Army will elaborate how it conducted the Humanitarian Operation with all the field commanders at hand.

Over 25 international media organizations have already confirmed their participation to cover the event.

"Everything is transparent and media is at liberty to meet any of those contributors on the sidelines of the seminar," the Commander added.

Lieutenant General Jayasuriya said the sessions would contribute to broaden understanding and exchange of knowledge among delegates with relevance to the Sri Lankan perspective.

"The speakers will elaborate on lessons learnt and reasons that led to the military success," he added.

Some topics of the sessions will be themed on 'Challenges and Prospects of Counter Terrorism', 'Evolution of LTTE and International Networking', 'Overview of Counter Terrorism in Sri Lanka', 'Humanitarian Operations', 'Force Multipliers in Counter Terrorism', 'Combat Service Support and Evolution of Training', 'IDPs Resettlement', and 'Rehabilitation, Reintegration and De-mining'.

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