The Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka, (Insssl) the premier National Security Think tank under the Ministry of Defence will hold its inaugural international conference, ‘Colombo Shangri La Colloquium’, under the theme: “Towards a collective security policy for South Asia: building resilience and stability”.
The event will be held on December 16 at Shangri La Hotel Colombo with the Secretary of Defence, Hemasiri Fernando as the chief guest cum keynote speaker.
The conference will explore the challenges and opportunities for a collective security policy for South, and conference papers would be compiled into a special issue that would be presented to the Head of the INSSSL, President Maithripala Sirisena.
The Colombo Shangri la Colloquium is a track II event where distinguished scholars and practitioners from international and regional think tanks from Japan, China, Maldives, France, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka would share their perspectives and search for solutions to pressing regional problems.
The Colloquium will comprise three panels on key sub-thematic areas: Maritime Security Cooperation in the Indian Ocean (chaired by former Ambassador Palihakkara), Countering Violent Extremism (chaired by Maj Gen (Rtd) Udaya Perera), and Security Agenda through Regionalism (chaired by Mrs. Ramla Wahab Salman).
The presenters will each speak on a topic that is pressing and vital to develop and strengthen the regional security architecture.
The presenters include Prof. Swaran Singh, Dr. Saturo Nagao, Dr. Huang Yunsong, Dr. Rasheeda Didi, Dr. Francoise Nicolas, Ambassador Amjad Majid, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) A.N.M. Muniruzman, Major Suranga Witharana psc, Dr. Ranga Jayasuriya, Dr. Uttam Sinha, Ms. Kasuni Ransinghe, Dr. Nischal Pandey, Ms. Natasha Fernando and Prof. Asanga Abeyagoonasekera.