“The epicentre of geopolitical, geo-economic and geostrategic power is shifting from the Euro-Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific” said Professor Rohan Gunaratna. Chaired by the Sri Lankan foreign minister Professor G.L. Peiris, Professor Gunaratna, Director-General of the Institute of National Security Studies addressed the EU Indo-Pacific Strategy through Sri Lanka’s Lens: Opportunities for Cooperation and Partnership at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute (LKI) in Colombo on January 27, 2022.
Professor Gunaratna said, “There is an increased outflow of narcotics and weapons from Afghanistan since the Taliban-al Qaeda alliance captured power in Kabul on August 15, 2021. The Taliban-al Qaeda alliance has access to a huge reserve of weaponry the western forces left behind. Due to poverty, Taliban is permitting the Afghans to grow poppy and manufacture heroin. To counter the flow of narcotics, the Sri Lankan navy is playing a frontline role. At this point there is neither global nor regional cooperation, collaboration and partnership to address this apex challenge. Unless we come together, the reserve of weaponry and unhindered cultivation of poppy will pose a threat to the region and beyond. With cooperation, collaboration and partnership with the US, EU and ASEAN, Sri Lanka can detect and disrupt the eastward flow of narcotics and weapons.” “As the EU is not a hegemon, Sri Lanka is comfortable working with EU and EU countries,” added Professor Gunaratna.