The $Seminar 2/2019$ organised under the theme $Countering violent extremism; contemporary trends and challenges$ commenced with an inauguration ceremony for the 14th consecutive time, at the OCDC Main Hall, a short while ago.
Due to unavoidable circumstances, the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc could not grace the occasion as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker for today$s seminar. However, with his guidance, direction and encouragement enabled the OCDC to organise the event successfully and without his support and generosity, this endeavour would not have been a reality.
As per the military customs and traditions the OCDC Commandant, Major General KJ Jayaweera RWP RSP USP rcds delivered his welcome speech and with the blessings of the Commander of the Army, Major General Nirmal Dharmaratne WWV RWP RSP ndu psc, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and delivered the Keynote speech stressing upon the validity of conducting seminars on current issues in today’s context.
Special invitees, PSOs including Director General General Staff, Director General Infantry, and Director General Finance Management, Security Forces Commander - Central, Directors of Army Headquarters, Commandants of Trg Schs, past Commandants of OCDC and Senior officers are also attending the seminar at the moment.
During these two days, Prof Amal Jayawardane - Senior Professor, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), Major General (Retd) KPA Jayasekara WWV RSP USP ndc psc, Major General PR Wanigasooriya USP ndu USACGSC, Mrs Manisha S. Wanasinghe Pasqual and Dr. Chamila Thalagala will chair the five sessions.
The Guest Speakers will be Dr Harinda Vidanage - Director, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) Sri Lanka, Col DKSK Dolage USP psc, Col AMCP Wijayarathe RWP RSP psc, Mr Ashan Wickramasinghe, Mr Asif Fuard, Dr Sanjiva Weerawarana, Lt Col PSS Sanjeewa RSP psc, Mr Indika Perera (Independent Lawyer), Mr Nilanthan Nirunthan (BCIS) and Maj DP Aluthge SLAGSC.
The two day long high profile event will be attended by 67 Lieutenant Colonels and Majors of SL Army, 09 x officers of Navy and Air Force, Police and STF, professionals from Ministries and some students of Kotalawala Defence University and University of Peradeniya.
The OCDC, through this forum, aims at bringing together all officers of Sri Lanka Army and sister services for a critical discussion towards formulating a collective and assertive approach to overcome the challenges faced by violent extremism in the 21st century.
The five sessions of the Seminar will lay the foundation for the participants to share their views in the interactive question and answer sessions.
