Sri Lanka at Shangri-La Dialogue 2013

The 12th Asia Security Summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue 2013, the Asian region’s biggest defence and security forum commenced in Singapore on 31 May with a noteworthy roster of defence leaders and senior officials from over 27 countries in attendance. The summit was held from 31 May to 2 June, providing a platform for countries to engage in dialogues aimed at building confidence and fostering practical security cooperation.

Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Vietnam, opened the 12th Shangri-La Dialogue by delivering the keynote address in which he called on the countries of the region to ‘build strategic trust’ to overcome disputes.

Secretary of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa led the Sri Lankan delegation. The delegation included Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya – Commander of Sri Lanka Army, Kshenuka Senewiratne – Additional Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs and Rear Admiral Jayantha Perera – Director General Operation of Sri Lanka Navy.

The Defence Secretary held bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the Shangri-la dialogue with Minister for Defence of Malaysia Y.B. Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and explained the significant role played by Sri Lanka in curbing international terrorism by ending a 30 year terrorist conflict and spoke of the constructive way forward adopted by the country in achieving national reconciliation.

Secretary Rajapaksa also held bilateral discussions with the Administrative Vice Minister of Defence, Japan Masanori Nishi. Both parties welcomed the strengthening of bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and Japan, and exchanged views on regional and international developments.

Other bilateral meetings with Sri Lanka included a meeting held with the Secretary of Defence Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Minister of Defence of Indonesia and with Chiang Chie Foo, Permanent Secretary for Defence of Singapore. Both Indonesia and Singapore acknowledged their enhanced interactions and sound bilateral relations with Sri Lanka and the parties resolved to strengthen co-operation further in the defence and security spheres.

Countries represented at this year’s dialogue comprised of Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, UK, the US and Vietnam.