http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110603_03

Historic Army conference on defeating terrorism Ends with positive note

www.defence.lk">Curtains came down on the landmark three-day international seminar, 'Defeating Terrorism - The Sri Lankan Experience' on Thursday (2) forenoon at Colombo Galadari Hotel, in which transparent deliberations and presentations over Sri Lanka's military success against terrorism were comprehensively discussed in an assembly of more than 80 delegates, representing 41 countries, including Sri Lanka.
The seminar, first of its kind in the island was attended by a panel of internationally acclaimed experts on terrorism and other reputed resource personnel, including all robust ground commanders in the Army, Navy and Air Force who actively contributed to the completion of the victorious Humanitarian Operation that brought durable peace to Sri Lanka after thirty years of ruthless violence.
The seminar, themed on a concept mooted by Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence focused on a variety of perspectives like 'Challenges and Prospects of Counter Terrorism', 'Evolution of LTTE and International Networking' 'Overview of Counter Terrorism', 'Humanitarian Operation', 'Force Multipliers in Counter Terrorism', 'Combat Service Support and Evolution of Training', 'CIMIC IDPs, Resettlement, Rehabilitation, Reintegration of Combatants and De-mining', 'Nation Building,' 'Wonder of Asia', etc in stark comparison and contrast with global menace of terrorism, terrorist trends, predominance of both political will and military efforts, reconciliation, threats to national and international security concerns, effective counter mechanism, prevention of resurgence of violence, re-evaluation of traditional approaches, etc. A wide range of issues, uncommon in other conflicts were also taken up, referring to the Sri Lankan case.
The seminar organized on the directions of the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya kicked off on Tuesday (31) and was addressed by a host of eminent scholars, guest speakers and resource personnel. Minister of External Affairs Prof G.L Peiris, Secretary to HE the President Mr Lalith Weerathunga, Defence Secretary Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Governor Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr Ajith Nivard Cabraal, several International Experts on Terrorism, Dr Rohan Gunaratne, Dr Ahmed S. Hashim, Dr David Kilcullen and senior ground commanders were among the main contributors to the sessions, attended by about 250 invitees.
Delegates as well as the battalion of local and international Media personnel present, enjoying the complete freedom of interacting and exchanging of independent views and their concerns with any of the contributors to the sessions as they wished, were full of praise to the Army for its frankness and transparency.
Brigadier M. Umair from Pakistan articulated his views and said that this is a lovely opportunity to learn from Sri Lanka. There were many aspects of terrorism that were discussed. Beyond any doubt, this is a good learning experience for the whole South Asia.
He further added; "This initiative is worth admiring because it has all the positives. The Sri Lankan experience is a case study which reiterates the fact that no army can act in isolation. Because of the perfect harmony between the Government and the armed forces, and because the Sri Lankan nation stood by the armed forces, victory was possible."
Lieutenant General Abdul Wadud from Bangladesh opined that this symposium is a great job by the Sri Lankan Government where frank exchange of views take place.
"This event is a very successful and memorable and also a very useful event for other countries. Sri Lanka's lead in defeating terrorism is a good lesson for all. Meanwhile the interaction with Sri Lanka's senior military officers at the seminar as well as outside the seminar is very interesting', said Ahmed Nijam, Brigadier General from Maldivian Army.
Deliberations explored possibilities of transcending beyond traditional approaches and countering threats in respective countries, still continue to be plagued by menace of terrorism, drawing parallels between Sri Lanka and theirs. Participants also learnt the magnitude of the disinformation campaign that had been set in motion by the LTTE in the past, its fund-raising and financing. It was also reminded of the still active LTTE networks overseas with low intensity, but with the ulterior and vicious motive of destabilizing Sri Lanka's economy, ethnic harmony, resettlement, reintegration and reconciliation efforts in the long run.
Delegates from US, USSR, China, India, Pakistan and Maldives during sessions did not mince words to heap praise on the Sri Lanka Army's success story against the scourge of LTTE terrorism that posed a threat to the region and its utmost priority and prominence, given to the humanitarian aspect, perhaps unparallel in any other conflict scenario in the world.
Deliberations arose based on specific issues made by ground commanders, Navy and Air Force officers to the successful conduct of the Humanitarian Operations that witnessed the world's biggest rescue operation, turned to be one of the widely debated topics since the Army, contrary to vicious expectations, secured this achievement with a zero casualty figure.
Sessions that explained counter terrorist operations behind enemy lines with special focus on Armour, Artillery, Engineers, Signals, Navy and Air Force positions laid the foundation for a string of queries from the audience as they were educative. Participants with rapt attention listened to the gripping narratives exposed by officers behind logistic operations and indispensable medical support and were made to understand the LTTE's brutality and its atrocities, perpetrated continuously on minors, civilians and other dissenting non-combatants.
The final day of the seminar saw a series of very important post-war scenarios under extensive discussion with the participation of authorities in charge of IDPs, resettlement, rehabilitation, reintegration, de-mining, nation-building and fast development, to make Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia. Themes were of equal importance to the international community and attracted the attention of the delegates.
During closing remarks, it was pointed out that Sri Lanka's defeat of terrorism has given tremendous hope for countries, affected by terrorism as Sri Lanka's very precise and careful preparations before dismantling the terrorist outfit, brought about warfare, blended with a humane approach. The assembly was also reminded how the most impressive and unprecedented rehabilitation process of ex-combatants, a model to a country like Nepal could be adapted and the humanitarian de-mining carried out by the Army.
Those closing remarks also outlined the importance of sustaining a viable and unwavering information mechanism, through which the Sri Lanka Army could carry its message to every corner of the world since it is the laptop now makes war unlike before in a post-war scenario.
Keynote address of the Secretary Defence at the inauguration as well as separate presentations on 'Wonder of Asia' and 'Nation Building' by Mr Lalith Weerathunga, Secretary to President and Dr Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka respectively, set the gamut of issues, pertaining to the success story in correct perspective and called upon the international community to realize the pulse of the people. Prof Rajiv Wijesinghe's analytical assessments and clarifications appeared very constructive and thought-provoking.
As the seminar ended with a positive note amidst comments and best wishes of the delegates, Dr Rohan Gunaratna requested the Army to make it an annual event, hopefully to discuss further on rehabilitation, development, resettlement and ethnic harmony in the future.
During a press briefing consequent to the successful conduct of the international seminar, 'Defeating Terrorism - Sri Lankan Experience' on Thursday (2) afternoon, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army expressed his gratitude to media for its cooperation to make this historic event a great success.
He also opined that the seminar would have inevitably assisted to broaden understanding and exchange of knowledge among delegates with relevance to the Sri Lankan perspective, being the first country in the 21st century to have defeated terrorism in the world.