National Security non-negotiable- – Army Chief
Army Chief Lt. Gen. Daya Ratnayake yesterday said that the three-decade long war against the LTTE had taught Sri Lankans many valuable lessons, particularly the pivotal importance of national security and the need to pursue it at any cost.
The Army Chief was addressing the inaugural sessions of the Defence Seminar – 2014, under the theme, Sri Lanka: Challenges to a Rising Nation at Colombo Galadari Hotel
The arrival of the day’s Chief Guest Minister of External Affairs, Prof G. L Peiris, Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Neomal Perera flanked by Secretary to the President, Lalith Weerathunga, Secretary to the Treasury Dr. P. B Jayasundera and Secretary to Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa heralded the ceremonial inauguration of the three-day sessions.
The moderator for the proceedings, Brigadier Ralf Nugera, Director Training at Army Headquarters summarised how the series of Defence Seminars took shape after the first one in year 2011 as a brainchild of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.
The following are excerpts of Commander’s speech at the inaugural ceremony;
“Stability achieved through a hard-fought and won peace has established the conditions for a development drive that has seen the nation rise from the ashes of war to contentment, geared by prosperity.
“We do not seek much, but the rightful place we enjoyed in history, which has been the hub for all activity, running through, over and around our island.
“The vision encapsulated in the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’, a vision guiding the development of the Nation, calls for the island to be transformed into a Naval, Aviation, Commercial, Energy and Knowledge Hub.
“This takes us back to the strategy for prosperity, adopted by our forefathers who rightly exploited our geopolitical positioning for national wellbeing.
“The employment of the defence sector to secure, and further these aspirations, remains our principal security effort.
“But, the role of the military does not end here; we have extended our capabilities to reinforce development efforts in these hubs, too.
“With the permission of the Keynote Speaker, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, I wish to borrow some of his recent economic predictions, which I assure you, are very encouraging to Sri Lankans.
“Sri Lanka is expected to experience a per capita income of US$7000 by the year 2020 from a per capita income of US$ 4000 in 2015.
“This would certainly signal the nation’s transit into an upper -middle income country, a dream we have pursued with vigour.
“There is no doubt that this would make the defence sector’s job easier as the increase in incomes, would improve life and reduce discontent which on the long run, would strengthen security.
“Adapting the capabilities of the Army, to meet the missions demanded in support of development and nation-building whilst sustaining war fighting abilities, are among some of the unique challenges we face.
“Through organizational and structural reshaping, along with a balanced rotation of our nation-building skills, and security capabilities we have been able to successfully, meet these national commitments.
“Another key contributor to our rise is the success of our reconciliation process, which not only bridges the ethnic divide, and adds to national cohesion, but also matches economic separations with dividends to the nation’s economy.
“This has also added to social unity, based on an inspired vision of a common and prosperous future. Further, as understanding influenced by collaboration gradually, takes root, separatist ideologies would fade away.
“It is my contention that this incentive of peace experienced after the conflict and prosperity within reach, has strengthened our security.
“This should not be interpreted in any way as letting down our guard.
“Our national security is stronger than ever.
“Today we are much smarter, more vigilant and possess greater responsive capability to deal with threats to national security.
“We strongly believe in a balance between national security which focuses on the State and human security on the individual.
“The Army has begun training and acquiring a set of skills and capabilities to meet the requirements, emanating from non-traditional threats.
“Defence Seminar 2014, is guided by the theme ‘Sri Lanka: Challenges to a Rising Nation’ which I consider, appropriate not just to Sri Lanka, but to all Nations, big or small.
“Through this seminar, we seek to propose our Nation’s experience as a model for intellectual discourse with development as a dividend of peace and security.
“It focuses on the interaction between security, development and prosperity and their inseparable partnerships.
“Moreover, many a Nation may be struggling for solutions to similar problems, many more like us, may be recovering and moving towards prosperity and many others may have passed us and reached goals of a secure, safe and better life.”
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