Welcome Remarks by the Director General of INSSSL at the Inauguration of the Australian Defence White Paper Workshop
The Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka (INSSSL) in collaboration with the Australian High Commission organised a workshop on the “Australian Defence White Paper” . The workshop which commenced today, the 23rd of October will continue till 25th October 2017.
The Director General of INSSSL gave the welcome remarks during the inauguration of the workshop.
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"The Secretary Defence/ our Chairman of INSSSL, Commander of the Navy, Chief of Defence Staff, Acting High Commissioner of Australia, our Advisory council members, Captain Jason Sears the Defence attaché of Australia and the distinguished guests from Australia, our distinguished military officers and administration officers, Officers of KDU and Researchers at INSSSL, ladies and gentleman.
On behalf of our Chairman and the Board of Directors at INSS, I would like to welcome all of you to this important workshop on the “Australian White Paper”. It is with immense pleasure I welcome Secretary Defence and the Acting High Commissioner of Australia.
Let me begin by thanking the Australian High commissioner and Defence Attaché for their kind assistance and support.
A very special welcome to our guests from Australia who is here to share their experience and knowledge on a comprehensive and responsible long term plan released in 2016. “The Australian Defence White Paper “is an analysis of Australia’s geopolitical and security environment identifying six main drivers that will shape the country’s security requirements until 2035.
The white paper looks at U.S.-China relationship, the military modernization, state rivalry in the Indo-Pacific, the threat of terror attacks, and, finally cyber-attacks.
Prior to the white paper, the British Government traditionally produces a ‘green paper’ to promote discussion on key topics. The government then presents the white paper to Parliament as a way of announcing key government decisions in key policy areas. Australia has been producing key defence white papers eight of them starting from 1976.
When a nation has its white paper spelled out you have clarity of the journey you wish to navigate. You identify the challenges, the industries you wish to invest, you could see if your defence strategy and capability plans have been aligned with funding. If the proposed plans are affordable and achievable.
Sri Lanka after it’s nearly 30 years of conflict the role of the military has changed in the post war. While post war reconciliation is a top priority, the safety of the Sri Lankan people and defending our territory and national interests are the priority of Ministry of Defence. Therefore investing heavily in new defense capabilities to meet the security challenges of the future is essential as a nation geostrategically positioned in the Indian Ocean.
In this process geopolitical analysis and identification of potential challenges to our nation is essential. The defence white paper could assist to resolve the complexity of the nation’s defence strategy, and help to bridge the gap with the general public.
This workshop will give us the opportunity to learn from a nation who is investing 2 percent of GDP on Defence by 2021, around 30 billion AUD.
We will understand challenges Australia faces in the larger Pacific Ocean, similar challenges Sri Lanka could face in a different scale in the Indian Ocean. Australia is seen as a neutral power in the Pacific and Sri Lanka could be a stabilizer in the Indian Ocean protecting and creating a peaceful surrounding at a time of the rise of China and emerging India happening at the same time in Asia.
INSS as the national security think tank with its leadership by His Excellency the President and Secretary Defence has embarked today on an important mission, to facilitate and assist the defence establishment to transfer the knowledge of the Australian white paper. I am certain the participants of this workshop who has tremendous ability in their respective fields will benefit and add value in the process.
Without further, I wish this workshop all success and I thank you for your participation."
