42 countries to participate in 'Defeating Terrorism' seminar

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

Some 300 delegates from 42 countries are expected to participate in the three-day seminar ‘Defeating Terrorism: the Sri Lankan Experience,’ scheduled to be held from 31 May to 2 June, Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya said.

Ambassadors or High Commissioners would represent countries which do not send their military delegates, the Army Commander said.

The Russian Federation 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 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 Rs. 45 million, the Army Commander said.

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 organisations 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’.