Colombo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath addressed the 26th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Heads of Defence Universities, Colleges, and Institutions Meeting (HDUCIM) in Colombo. The gathering, hosted by the General Sir John Kotelawela Defence University, took place from January 22-25, 2025, at Galle Face Hotel and was co-chaired by Sri Lanka and Cambodia, bringing together leaders in defence education from across the region.
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Sri Lanka, during his keynote address on January 24, Minister Herath emphasized Sri Lanka’s dedication to bolstering its relationship with ASEAN and promoting collaboration to tackle shared challenges in the Asia-Pacific. He highlighted the nation’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean and its commitment to neutrality and Non-Alignment, while seeking partnerships that enhance regional peace and stability.
Minister Herath also pointed out the importance of adapting defence education to modern threats suc
h as cyber warfare, hybrid conflicts, and AI-driven operations. He suggested that regional defence institutions form collaborative networks to improve research and exchange best practices, thereby strengthening ties among member states.
Reaffirming Sri Lanka’s dedication to global peacekeeping, Herath mentioned the country’s history of contributing over 25,000 personnel to UN peacekeeping missions since 1958. He also noted Sri Lanka’s active involvement in regional maritime security efforts, including its participation in the Combined Maritime Force for counter-narcotics, anti-smuggling, and anti-piracy operations.
The Minister expressed optimism about enhancing regional security cooperation through ARF initiatives and praised the meeting’s role in promoting dialogue on emerging security issues and creating a unified defence education framework for the Asia-Pacific region.
Sri Lanka remains actively involved in ARF activities and has both hosted and co-chaired meetings on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament,
as well as Disaster Relief. The ARF serves as a crucial ASEAN-led platform for security discussions in the Asia-Pacific, with Sri Lanka being a member since 2007.