“Unity of Effort: Building Military - Civil Partnerships to Counter Violent Extremism” - Commander of the Army

ARFRO in collaboration with OPA organised a Symposium at the OPA auditorium on 23 rd February 2018. Lieutenant General NUMMW Senanayake RWP RSP VSV,USP USACGSC, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army graced the occasion as the Keynote Speaker & the theme was “Unity of effort: Building Military – Civil Partnerships to Counter Violent Extremism”.

The President OPA, President ARFRO, and large number of members both from ARFRO & OPA were present for the Symposium. During his key note address the Commander of the Army highlighted that there has been a constant increase in the number of violent extremist movements with devastating socio-economic implications and different motives in making sovereign countries more vulnerable for peaceful coexistence. Threats and influence being caused by these groups have now become difficult to cope with existing ways and means. Sri Lanka has also become a victim of these existential threats over three decades.

However, Sri Lanka has become one of the first countries to defeat terrorism from its own territory. Sri Lankan experience in defeating terrorism has given a new dimension in implementing countering mechanism as well as ideal example for post-conflict situation management. The The Commander stated that there is nothing new about the idea that suppression of terrorism must encompass both hard and soft measures. Government needs “Iron fist in a velvet glove” approach to counter different extremist narratives before it develops into terrorism. Disaggregate from a group is known as de-radicalisation. This situation can occur when an individual is not comfortable with leadership and internal compulsions within the group, hypocritical behaviour of group members and ineffectiveness of violent or illegal methods.

The Commander of the Army concluded his address by saying; as former Secretary General of United Nations Dag Hammarskjold stated, “Peacekeeping is not a job for soldiers, but only soldiers can do it”. This notion of idea must be accompanied by the judicious use of every element of power with good governance. Good governance will always resolve many root causes of societal indifferences. Preventing violent extremism should be reinforced with local and overseas efforts along with comprehensive and holistic approach to prevent grown violent extremism from being radicalised Air Vice Marshal Kingsley Samaratunge, being Vice President of OPA coordinated this event.