Pathfinder Foundation participates in international seminar in China
Pathfinder Foundation Director Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage recently participated in the International Seminar on Counter Terrorism, De-radicalisation and Human Rights Protection, conducted in China.
The event was held in the capital city of Urumqi in China’s northwestern province of Xinjiang. The seminar was hosted by China Society of Human Rights Studies (CSHRS) and co-hosted by South West University of Political Science and Law (SWUPL) in Chongqing and the School of Political Science and Public Administration of Xinjiang University.
The sub-themes of the seminar included a comparative study of counterterrorism and de-radicalisation of different countries in the region, humanitarian and human rights protection and China’s practices and experience in international cooperation in counterterrorism and de-radicalisation. There were 25 foreign and 39 Chinese scholars and subject matter experts, who participated in the seminar. The foreign scholars represented South Asia, Central Asia, Europe, North Africa and the United Nations.
Colombage delivered the keynote address titled ‘Counterterrorism and De-radicalisation: Lessons Learnt from the Sri Lankan Experience’. He pointed out that Sri Lanka was the only country in the contemporary world to defeat terrorism by military means. This rare feat was achieved, having fought with the ‘most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world’ for nearly three decades. With a strong political leadership and a grand strategy, the Government of Sri Lanka Forces launched simultaneous ground, air and sea offensives with a view to free the country from terrorism. This operation lasted just three years and the LTTE terrorist apparatus was decimated, along with its leadership.
Highlighting the recent ‘Easter bombings’ in Sri Lanka, Admiral stated that peace prevailed in the country for nearly 10 years until the Islamic ideologists and extremists carried out a series of coordinated suicide bombings, targeting mainly Christians and foreigners. These devastating attacks indicated clear vulnerability and lack of national security readiness in the country just 10 years after defeating a powerful and ruthless terrorist organisation.
Unlike the LTTE, the Islamic terrorism is more internationally motivated and heavily radicalised. Furthermore, some of the suicide bombers were well educated, rich young men and women, who had been inspired by the ideology of Islamic State propaganda. Post ‘Easter bombings’, emergency laws were enacted and armed forces were called to action. The military, armed with experience gained by fighting the LTTE, rose to the occasion and arrested a large number of suspects, identified training locations and seized weapons, ammunition and explosives.