INSSSL invited for Asia Think Tank Summit 2018

Saturday, 8 December 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka (INSSSL) under the Ministry of Defence was invited for the 6th Asia Think Tank Summit held in Bali, Indonesia from 21-23 November.

Director General Asanga Abeyagoonasekera was invited as a panellist to speak at the panel on ‘The future or back to the future? New Actors and Alliances’. During his speech he said, “It was an honour for INSSSL to participate for this important think tank summit along with the leading think tanks of Asia, recognising and inviting INSSSL in such a short time since its establishment in 2016, is highly appreciated. The role of think tanks is so important especially at a time of external uncertainties and internal instability and influences. Bringing independent view to the table is important. When you are a government think tank it is an extremely challenging task to advice for and against based on facts and empirical evidence to policy makers.

“Our think tank INSSSL since its inception established by President Sirisena is playing a pivotal role to advice policy makers on national security concerns. This is the only security think tank with civilian military nexus. We have published two annual journals in 2017 and 2018, many commentaries and policy briefs. Today we are in the process to design the national Defence policy along with our Defence establishment and the leadership of our new Chairman Secretary Defence Hemasiri Fernando.

“INSSSL has given independent observations at many occasions. We are happy to say some of our policy briefs have been seriously considered. We have given inputs on the long term lease agreement with Chinese port in Hambantota to many other strategic agreements and foreign equipment that comes to our soil specially targeting our strategic assets to name a few. Discussions on countering violent extremism, health security, information security, cultural security and impacts of climate change to the nation are some vital topics we have discussed.

“Our recommendations such as the importance of a national cyber security strategy was taken up by the line ministry and has been taken forward. Presidents Expert Committee Report on 2030 Sustainability which was released few months ago, our Think Tank was consulted and we have contributed for this important report. In a few weeks we will hold the ‘Colombo Shangri-La Colloquium’ one of the first track II security dialogues with regional and extra regional scholars. It is vital think tanks produce balanced policy debate, support consistency in policy when it’s absent at policy level.”

Speaking of Sri Lanka’s recent internal political instability, Abeyagoonasekera said, “US,EU and Canada should not intervene in Sri Lankan domestic politics, this is unacceptable since Sri Lanka is one of the oldest democracies in South Asia.”

Leading Asian think tanks and distinguished scholars from around the world participated for the 6th Asia Think Tank Summit which was co-sponsored by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania (TTCSP).