Fri, 2013-02-01 01:52 — editor
Colombo, 01 February, (Asiantribune.com):
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and
Urban Development in Sri Lanka Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to the
Ministry of Defence and Urban Development in Sri Lanka will deliver a keynote
address at a joint seminar on “Political and Diplomatic Challenges Faced by
Nations During and After Conflicts Confined to Borders.”
The
Joint Seminar is expected to be organized by the High Commission of Pakistan in
collaboration with the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations
and Strategic Studies on the 11th of February at the Kadirgamar Institute.
The
seminar is bringing together eminent personalities from both the countries to
deliberate on the ramifications of conflicts on nations.
The
thematic relevance of seminar to current national narratives of Sri Lanka and
Pakistan will provide an introspective opportunity to develop frameworks for
mitigation, averting and management of internal conflicts.
Sharing
experiences, the panel of experts, will provide policy inputs and frameworks
for creating holistic paradigms to resolve political, economic and defence
issues at home and diplomatic challenges faced in the international arena.
Universally,
building an effective government within a constitutional framework that has the
trust of the people is a political challenge that governments face during and
after the conflicts. The need to address humanitarian crisis after a conflict,
establishing the rule of law, maintaining macro-economic stability and
development of social services and infrastructure are some of the post-conflict
political challenges that will be discussed at the seminar.
The
externalization of internal conflicts and the misrepresentation of facts during
conflicts lead to diplomatic challenges. Diplomacy, in times of internal
conflicts, is instrumental in managing relations and mustering international
support for national cause.
Furthermore,
challenges in countering extremism and terrorism, and promoting pluralism will
receive focus at the seminar. The seminar also aims at identifying economic
opportunities and challenges in South Asia as a region.
Working
in partnership with the government, private-sector and community organizations,
the Kadirgamar Institute is the host of a series of national conferences on
reconciliation. The institute also conducts seminars and lectures by eminent
scholars. The High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka and the Kadirgamar
Institute invites all those interested, to participate in the Seminar. For
confirmation please contact the institute.
The
Speakers of the Seminar are:
•
Prof. G. L. Peiris, M.P., Minister of External Affairs, Sri Lanka
•
Ms. Amna Baloch, Acting High Commissioner for Pakistan in Sri Lanka
•
Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban
Development, Sri Lanka-Keynote Address
•
Mr. Riaz Khokhar, Former Foreign Secretary, Pakistan
•
Mr. Nihal Rodrigo, Former Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary SG/SAARC, Ambassador to
China
•
Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema, Senior Analyst, Pakistan
•
Prof. H D. Karunaratne, Faculty of Management and Finance, University of
Colombo
•
Prof. Rohan Gunaratna, Head, Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism
Research, Singapore
•
Lt. Gen. (Retired) Hamid Khan, Defence Analyst, Pakistan
•
Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa, Attorney-at-Law, Dean, Faculty of Law, Kotelawala
Defence University,Commissioner, Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission, Senior
lecturer, University of Colombo
•
Prof. D.S. Withane, Professor of Strategic Studies, Faculty of Defence and
Strategic Studies, Sir John Kotalawala Defence University
The
Moderators of the Seminar will be:
•
Mr. V. Krishnamoorthy, Director General, South Asia and SAARC Division,
Ministry of External Affairs, Sri Lanka
•
Dr. Mariam Saeed (Ms.), Second Secretary (Political Affairs), High Commission
for Pakistan in Sri Lanka
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Asian Tribune -
