DR. Chris Nonis Addresses the Defence and Security
forum, UK
 Dr.
Chris Nonis, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK
addressed the Defence and Security Forum, UK, the
Foreign and Defence affairs "think tank" which is
chaired by Major General Patrick Cordingley, DSO, who
commanded the ground forces in the First Gulf War. Its
Deputy Chairman is Rt Hon Sir John Wheeler, former
Minister of State for Northern Ireland, and Lady Olga
Maitland, former Member of Parliament, serves DSF as its
President. DSF serves to inform and brief members of the
City, the professions, diplomats and servicemen on
current events in the field of defence and foreign
affairs, and bearing in mind the impact that the
economies of the world have on international relations,
DSF also keeps a monitoring eye on trade relations and
economic issues.
Dr. Nonis spoke about the challenges
Sri Lanka faced, and the progress it had made in the
post-conflict era. He articulated the comprehensive
demining programmes and welfare programmes that had been
carried out to enable subsequent rehabilitation and
resettlement; the rehabilitation and reintegration of
ex-combatants and LTTE Cadres; the infrastructure
development programmes and the substantial role played
by the military in reconstruction and resettlement
activities. He highlighted the comprehensive ongoing
reconciliation programme, and the imperative of
addressing the dichotomy in perception between the
previous anachronistic view of Sri Lanka and
contemporary Sri Lanka.
Previous speakers at the Defence and
Security Forum include HRH Prince El Hassan of Jordan;
Major General James Cowan, DSO, OBE Head of Counter
Terrorism and UK Operations; Lord Robertson of Port
Ellen, previous Secretary-General of NATO; late Prime
Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto; HRH Prince Michael
of Kent; General Sir Jeremy Mackenzie, GCB, OBE; and
Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, GCB, OBE, ADC.
Courtesy : The High Commission
of Sri Lanka |
