Pakistan National Defense University Alumni Association’s Sri Lankan Chapter Launched in Colombo

The Sri Lankan Chapter of Pakistan’s National Defense University Alumni Association was launched today in an impressive ceremony held at Colombo.

Pakistan’s visiting Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Khalid Shameem Wynne, NI (M) was the guest of honour at the event which was also attended by the High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka HE Seema Ilahi Baloch. The Chief of Defense Staff Sri Lanka Air Chief Marshal WDRMJ Goonetileke and the Sri Lankan Army Commander Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya also attended the event alongwith the members of Alumni Association and a large number of prominent personalities of Sri Lanka.

The National Defense University Alumni Association is a platform for the Sri Lankan Officers of all three segments of the Armed Forces who attended training courses at the Pakistan’s National Defense University Islamabad. Air Chief Marshal WDRMJ Goonetileke, Chief of Defense Staff Sri Lanka is the Chief Patron of the Alumni Association. While, the High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka is the Co patron of Alumni Association.

The National Defense University (NDU) is the premier institution of Pakistan, catering for the needs of senior leadership from various segments of the society, both domestic and international, in comprehending security issues and policy / strategy formulation. The NDU is a center of excellence in academic and research pursuits in diversified disciplines providing well thought out inputs on national security at strategic level. The University imparts higher education in policy and strategy formulation at various tiers with emphasis on national security and defense, and act as a national think tank.

Several Senior Sri Lankan Officers from Armed forces have been attending courses at the National Defense University annually since 1993. Currently the NDU Alumni Association has 26 members, who hold highly significant assignments in their respective institutions in all the segments of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. The launch of the Association during the visit of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Pakistan to Sri Lanka is of immense importance as the time tested relationship between the two friendly countries is transforming on to a different pedestal of association after the war ended in Sri Lanka.

It is relevant to add that Pakistan is one of those very few countries which provided all out support to Sri Lankan stance at the UNHRC Session.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka being located in the South Asian region and being members of various regional and international bodies like UN, commonwealth, NAM and SAARC are mutually important for each others. The relationship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is based on mutual trust and commonality of interest in maintaining regional peace, security and stability. Pakistan has always supported the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.  Both countries have shared common perceptions on almost all regional and international issue and are working together on all these forums for shared values and interests.

Since independence, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have consistently maintained close, cordial and mutually supportive relations especially in the field of defense. Both nations have assisted each other during testing times in their histories.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have comprehensive and mutually beneficial training collaboration for Army, Navy and Air Force. Over a period of time, a strong bond of commitment and mutual understanding has been reached between both the friendly armed forces. In future too, both the brotherly countries are expected to work more closely in the field of defense to boost peace efforts in the region.