U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense to speak at Galle Dialogue 2011

Colombo Page
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A high ranking defence official of the Department of Defense will represent the United States at Sri Lanka's International Maritime Security Conference that is to be commenced in the southern port city of Galle today (14).

The two-day international conference is held at the Lighthouse Hotel, Galle for the second consecutive year by the Sri Lanka Navy under the aegis of Ministry of Defence.

Local and foreign scholars and experts in maritime and naval affairs are expected to share their views at this two-day dialogue, held under the theme, "Challenges and Strategic Cooperation for Indian Ocean Maritime Concerns".

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Robert Scher will speak at the "Galle Dialogue 2011" today (14) to present U.S. perspectives on security in the Indian Ocean, the U. S. Embassy in Colombo said in a statement.

Scher will speak on "Importance of Common Strategies for Global and Regional Maritime Security" at the conference.

Secretary to Ministry of Defence & Urban Development of Sri Lanka Gotabhaya Rajapaksa will deliver the key note address at the inaugural session.

The high ranking U.S. defense official is expected to highlight the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, discuss opportunities for defense cooperation in the areas of demining, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response and reiterate the U.S. Government's commitment to upholding international human rights standards for all countries.

While in Galle, Scher will meet with Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and other government officials, the Embassy said.

The Embassy statement said the U.S. has a longstanding history of being forward deployed around the globe, and remains committed to the region.

According to the official statement, the U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Indian Ocean, conducting maritime security operations, and being poised to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

"The U.S. recognizes the importance of multilateral approaches to promoting security in the Indian Ocean and aims to expand cooperation with regional partners," the statement noted.

The Dialogue this year is aimed at continuing the discussion with experiences of events over the past 15 months. Participants from over 20 countries are expected to discuss on a broad spectrum of maritime issues.

© Colombo Page

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Galle Dialogue on maritime threats opens today

By R. K. Radhakrishnan | The Hindu
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Senior Naval officials from India, Pakistan and a top defence official from the United States are among the participants at the Galle Dialogue, a strategic initiative aimed at discussing emerging maritime threats in the Indian Ocean region. The two-day meet begins Today (14).

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia Robert Scher will speak on November 14, to present the U.S. perspectives on security in the Indian Ocean. While in Galle, Mr. Scher will meet with Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other Government of Sri Lanka officials.

Mr. Scher is expected to highlight the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, discuss opportunities for defence cooperation in the areas of de-mining, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response and reiterate the U.S. Government's commitment to upholding international human rights standards for all countries, a release from the U.S. Embassy here said.

The United States-inspired dialogue has so far focussed on piracy alone in the Ocean. Defence experts and officials in the region are of the opinion that an annual dialogue of this nature has to include other threats as well, and, in that sense, expand its mandate to look comprehensively at security in the region.

The U.S. says that it remains committed to the region. “The U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Indian Ocean, conducting maritime security operations, and being poised to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The U.S. recognizes the importance of multilateral approaches to promoting security in the Indian Ocean and aims to expand cooperation with regional partners. The Galle Dialogue presents a welcome opportunity for countries in the region to discuss new opportunities for cooperation,” the release said.

© The Hindu

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Sri Lanka: Sex abuse cases on the rise

By Kelum Bandara | Daily Mirror Online
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Police have identified as many as 258 cases of sexual abuse involving children and 21 cases of forcing girls or women into the sex trade during the first nine months of this year, Parliament was informed last week.

According to a document tabled in the House, 47 cases of forcing women into the sex trade were reported last year, 31 in 2009, 33 in 2008, 30 in 2007, 35 in 2006, 15 in 2005 and 16 in 2004.

Besides, the report said 334 incidents where children were ill-treated and sexually abused were reported in 2010, a slight drop from 346 cases reported the previous year. In 2007, 366 cases were reported while 262 cases were reported in 2006.

However, 451 cases were reported in 2005 and 471 cases in 2004.

The House debated the rising crime wave, and the opposition stressed the need to introduce new laws to arrest the dangerous trend.

© Daily Mirror

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Nepali scribes slam Sri Lanka censorship of websites

The Himalayan Times
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Digital Media Committee at the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Online Journalists Association of Nepal (OJAN) and Nepal Chapter of Internet Society have expressed their concern over the Sri Lankan government’s move to block several news websites and imposing mandatory government registration of the news websites.

The Sri Lankan government had blocked five news websites recently on the charge of character assassination and insulting people including key political leaders.

Issuing a joint press statement on Friday, they have urged the Sri Lankan government to immediately revoke the decisions and ensure the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka.

“We believe the real motives behind the actions taken were to control the new media and hinder the free flow of information by refusing to ensure the democratic and pluralistic media environment,” reads the statement.

Condemning the government action, they have also said that the arbitrary blocking of websites, and therefore the free flow of information, deprives the fundamental human right of access to information and express dissenting opinions of the Sri Lankan people.

Terming the act as a move to suppress the media freedom in Sri Lanka, they have also expressed solidarity with the Sri Lanka’s rights activists, civil society organisations and citizens in the fight against those actions.

According to the Sri Lankan Telecommunication Regulatory Commission the five sites-- www.lankaenews.com, srilankamirror.com, srilankaguardian.com, paparacigossip9.com and www.lankawaynews.com – have been blocked as per the government order.

© The Himalayan Times

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