400 SENIOR OFFICERS DISCUSS CIVIL MILITARY REALATIONS

Army War College (AWC) successfully concluded its first Symposium for the incumbent Battalion Commanders in the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel and Major themed ‘Civil-military Relations and Military Professionalism’. The two-day symposium that aimed at broadening the knowledge on the specific subject area and conducted from 15 to 16 December 2022 via Zoom platform was attended by more than 400 military personnel login in from 200 different locations across the country. It was stated that the symposium conducted amidst various formidable challenges would not have been possible without guidance and necessary resources timely allocated by Lieutenant General HLVM Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Commander of the Army.

The Commandant, Brigadier YABM Yahampath RWP RSP ndu psc warmly welcomed all participants, and Major General SUMN Manage WWV RWP RSP psc, the Director General General Staff (DGGS), Sri Lanka Army delivered the opening remarks emphasising the necessity of improving Civil Military Relations in the present security context. Having highlighted the theoretical background of the Civil Military Relations at the initial stage, Major General Manage enumerated salient aspects expected to be covered during the sessions. In conclusion, he advocated Civil Military Relations to be a reciprocal obligation between military and civil authorities.

The day one of the AWC symposium covered two sessions on the topics of ‘Conceptual and Theoretical Perspectives on Civil-military Relations’ and ‘Civil-military Relations in a Complex Security Landscape: Identifying and Bridging Gaps’. Professor (Mrs) Maneesha S. Wanasinghe Pasquel from University of Colombo chaired the First Session in which Brigadier DKSK Dolage USP psc-Director Training Sri Lanka Army, Professor Prathiba Mahanamahewa-Rector of Sri Palee Campus were the eminent personalities. In addition to delivering the opening remarks, Major General Nishantha Manage chaired the afternoon session of Day 1. Dr Sanath De Silva from Kotelawela Defence University and Brigadier CP Arangalla psc Brigadier Coordinator, Green Agriculture Operation Centre were the professionals who shared their thoughts during the second session joining as the Guest Speakers.

The day two commenced with the third session themed ‘Mechanisms for Democratic Civilian Control over Military’ chaired by Major General KADA Karunasekara (retd) RWP RSP VSV USP ndu psc with the expertise of two professionals Mr Indika Perera Attorney at Law and Dr George I.H. Cooke, Initiator Awarelogue Initiative who boosted the interest of the audience on the session theme with their academic exposure. Meanwhile, the fourth session themed ‘Representation of Military in Sri Lankan Society’ was chaired by Major General EADP Edirisinghe psc, General Officer Commanding-65 Infantry Division and the panel of Guest Speakers for the session consisted of Professor Maneesha S. Wanasinghe Pasqual and Brigadier GLSW Liyanage USP psc, Director-Information Technology whose collaborative contribution hugely inspired the participants.

During the fifth and last session of the symposium themed ‘Commitment of Military Commanders in Civil-military Relations in the Local Context’ chaired by Brigadier YABM Yahampath RWP RSP, the Commandant Army War College along with two Guest Speakers, Colonel CAB Tennakoon RSP psc IG, Director Training, Office of Chief of Defence Staff and Colonel KTRB Kodippili psc, Colonel Perspective Planning and Implementation, Army Headquarters consolidated the thematic discussions successfully, thus concluding the AWC Symposium 2022 with significant insights and motivating all participants to disseminate knowledge through further research studies.

At the conclusion, sincere gratitude and thanks were also extended towards Military Secretary, all SF Commanders, FMA Commanders, DIV Commanders and Brigade Commanders for facilitating the Commanding Officers to participate as well as Chief Signal Officer, Director Trg, Director S and T, Director IT, Director RCD for coordinating and providing other assistance.