The inauguration ceremony of the ‘Colombo Defence Seminar 2017’, which is held under the theme, ‘Countering Violent Extremism: Global Trends’ was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the BMICH today (Aug. 28).

The Defence Seminar commenced in 2010 by the Sri Lanka Army with the aim of initiating a dialogue regarding the regional and global security issues.  This year the conference will be attended by 800 participants, including over 91 foreign military and civilian scholars.

This year the Colombo Defence Seminar will include the sessions on sub themes including, ‘Violent Extremism’, ‘Countering Violent Extremism’, ‘The Role of Armed Forces in Countering Violent Extremism’, and ‘Mechanism to Counter Violent Extremism’ supplemented with topical subjects such as ‘Challenges and Dilemmas, National Perspectives – East Asia and West Asia’, ‘Role of Regional Organizations’, ‘Impact of Global Governance’, ‘Legal Implications’, ‘Intelligence Cyber Challenges and Strategies’, ‘Specific Tasks of Armed Forces and Civil-Military Relations’, ‘UN Strategies’, ‘Education Strategies in Internal Security’, ‘Public Diplomacy in Countering Violent Extremism’, ‘Balancing Hard Power and Soft Power’, ‘Role of Military in Global Governance’, ‘Empowering Communities to Counter Violent Extremism’ and ‘Use of Fourth Generation Warfare to Counter Violent Extremism’, etc, spread out during the two day period

Already 22 Defence Attachés based in India, Defence Attachés in Colombo and military delegates from foreign countries are participating in this seminar.

Minister, Field Martial Sarath Fonseka, State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene, Secretary to the President Austin Fernando, Defence Secretary Kapila Waidyaratne, retired United States Navy four-star admiral William Joseph Fallon and the former Major General of the Indian Army, Ashok K. Mehta attended the inaugural function. (PMD)