COLOMBO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday inaugurated the annual Colombo Defence Seminar which will discuss global efforts to counter violent extremism.
The two-day international seminar is attended by over 91 foreign military and civil scholars from across the globe.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Kapila Waidyaratne said this year's seminar which will be held on the theme of Countering Violent Extremism with the objective of establishing intellectual connectivity on preserving strategic national, regional and global security.
With many countries facing the threat of violence, the defense secretary said it was important for countries to maintain collective defense strategies as no country in solitude could counter the situation.
"Collective defence strategies among nations are vital to reaching a pragmatic and appropriate response to a highly dynamic global security environment and anticipated future operational requirements," Waidyaratne said.
"This calls for all nations to work together and formulate consolidated national security strategies in order to face modern adversaries whose actions are brutal, unpredictable and highly technological," he added.
Military officials from 35 countries are participating in this year's seminar.
Since its inception in 2011, the island nation's annual international defense forum has grown into an internationally accepted round-table for interaction on matters pertaining to national, regional and international security.
