Prof. Peiris to lead Lanka delegation to Asia Security Summit in Singapore

After returning from his recent visit to the United States of America, Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris is to lead yet another delegation to The Shangri-La Dialogue, scheduled to be held in Singapore, states the Ministry.

The Sri Lanka delegation led by Prof. Peiris also includes Air Chief Marshall Roshan Gunathilake, Army Commander Lt. General Jagath Jayasuriya and other senior officials, according to the Ministry.

Prof. G.L. Peiris will lead the Sri Lanka delegation to the 9th IISS Asia Security Summit: The Shangri-La Dialogue, which is scheduled to be held in Singapore from 4th to 6th June 2010.

During the meeting, Prof. Peiris is scheduled to make a statement on “Counter-insurgency and strengthening governance – Sri Lankan perspective on the challenges of reasserting control and governance in formerly LTTE held areas.”

On the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Minister of External Affairs is also due to meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore and the Defence Ministers of Australia, Thailand and the Republic of Korea. He is also due to meet the Defence Secretaries of the UKand the US with a view to discussing Sri Lanka’s interests and updating them on the current developments in Sri Lanka. Minister Peiris will also meet with the Minister of Education and the Second Minster for Defence and the Acting Attorney General of Singapore.

The Shangri-La Dialogue was initiated in 2002 in response to the need for a forum where the Asia-Pacific’s Defense Ministers could engage in dialogue aimed at building confidence and fostering practical security cooperation. It is an annual gathering organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London and includes the participation of Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, UK, US, Vietnam.