Seminar on terrorism opens in Sri Lanka

Colonels representing India at the seminar on 'Defeating Terrorism, Sri Lankan Experience,' organised by the Sri Lanka Army in Colombo on Tuesday. The three-day seminar opened on Tuesday with an address by Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya, detailing the humanitarian operation carried out by the Sri Lankan Army in the final stages of the war. Photo: R.K. Radhakrishnan

Sri Lanka protected civilians in the face of a ruthless terrorist group using civilians as part of its military strategy, its Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya said here on Tuesday.

“Victory came with many sacrifices… [this is a] saga to be shared with the world. A saga of epic political resolve… National security is no longer confined to the borders as we see in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya,” he said in his opening address on ‘Defeating Terrorism, Sri Lanka Experience,’ organised by the Sri Lankan Army to share its experience in eradicating the LTTE.

Calling for a global alliance to defeat terrorism, he said that only such an alliance could succeed. He encouraged countries facing terrorism challenges to face it head on.

Indian participation

India sent three Colonels to take part in the seminar. One more Major from the Indian Army, now attached to the Staff College here, also attended the seminar. A team headed by a Major General represented Pakistan while a Lieutenant General led the Bangladesh delegation.

The LKR 45 million seminar is sponsored to a large extent by two Chinese companies, Chinese Poly technologies and China Electrical and Technologies Corporation.