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Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa being greeted by Defence Secretary, Navy Commander and their wives a Navy officer Navy band enchanting the audience Navy Diamond Jubilee band-fiesta A new unity of purpose among regional Navies

There were spectacular the President Lalith During the events him for he was the person cultural performances Weeratunga and Guest of galore presented by the who directed music and galore at the Sugath- Honour, Defence Secre- Navy replete dancing for the Sri Navy Commander Vice Thisara Samarasinghe Saluting the distinguished guests adasa Indoor stadium on tary, Gotabhaya Rajapak- with music and dancing, Lankan Navy. addressing the gathering December 8, when the sa were present to view the overseas bands took Navy Commander International Band Fiesta the extravagent musical their turns to make it a delivering his vote of and Cultural show concert. truly international event thanks paid tribute to the opened its curtains to The Navy Commander with exotic showpieces of bands and all those who mark the had given the guidance to aesthetic performances. contributed to make the Diamond Jubilee. hold the breathtaking per- All the bands were show a success. The bands of the Sri formances on a beautiful basking in the adulation He said that the com- Lanka Army and Air stage, which obviously of the crowd for the joy bined effort of the navies Force were ably support- had taken a lot of creative and amazement they on stage showed how far ed by the bands of and innovative thinking to crated in the viewers. the military establish- Bangladesh, India, Iran put together, vividly trig- Captain Jude Peiris ments of different coun- and Pakistan Navies at gering the feeling of a was a joyous man as he tries can move in the this event of grandeur. naval environment in the could see his effort bear- direction of mutual soli- Navy Commander Thisara Samarasinghe Chief Guest, Secretary to minds of the spectators. ing fruit right in front of darity. delivering the vote of thanks Navy band greeting the audience in traditional outfits.

A performance by the Navy band. Another showpiece performance by the Navy band

External Affairs Minister G L Peiris, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Tisara Samarasinghe, Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke. Army Commander, Lieu- Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa being welcomed by the Navy Commander tenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Police Chief Mahinda Balasuriya with the eight symposium participants. Naval Chiefs’ symposium in Colombo International maritime powers pledge solidarity to SL Navy Six Naval Chiefs from inghe, Air Chief Marshal The papers presented at * Revisiting Maritime around the world and repre- Roshan Gunatileke, Army the symposium were; Laws by Royal Australian sentatives from 21 coun- Commander Lieutenant Navy Chief of staff Vice External Affairs Minister G L Peiris being greeted by the tries along with scholars in General Jagath Jayasuriya, *Challenges to Maritime Admiral Russel Harry Navy Commander the maritime domain par- Inspector General Mahin- Security by Indian Navy Crane. National flags of the participating countries ticipated in the Naval and da Balasuriya were present Assistant Chief of Staff * Collective Response to Maritime symposium held at the occasion. AK Chawla. Maritime Disasters and under the theme ‘Sustain- This concept is based on * Challenges to safety, SAR by Philippines Navy able support for Security President Mahinda security and providing sus- Deputy Chief of staff Rear and Safety at Sea” (S5) on Rajapaksa’s wish to make tainable support in Lit- Admiral Jose Luis. December 08. Sri Lanka, regain its for- torals (A Sri Lankan per- French Navy Chief of The top level Interna- mer glory on the silk route spective by Sri Lanka Navy Defence staff vice Admiral tional symposium was a by becoming an Interna- Rear Admiral Susith Zahir Urddin Ahmed, part of the series of events tional Maritime hub again. Weerasekara). Bangladesh Navy Chief held in view of the Sri functioned as the modera- Lanka Navy’s 60th Naval and Maritime Symposium tors of the afternoon ses- anniversary celebrations. sions. Chief guest, External ■ Six foreign Naval chiefs participated The symposium conclud- Affairs Minister G L Peiris ■ Maritime scholars from 21 countries ed with all participants delivered the inaugural shared experiences pledging support to the Sri ■ speech. Main focus was on Sustainable Support Lankan navy to initiate and for Security and Safety at Sea. Defence Secretary ■ forge means and mecha- Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Theme originated from President Rajapaksa’s nisms for ‘sustainable sup- wish to regain Sri Lanka’s former glory External Affairs Minister at the occasion of lighting the tra- External Affairs Ministry port for security and safety of being the Silk Route of shipping ditional oil lamp to inaugurate the symposium. Secretary Romesh Jayas- at sea’. The symposium panel =