Are we jeopardising national security?
Posted on June 22nd, 2015

K. Godage Former Ambassador

I was shocked and surprised to learn that the government had decided to close the office of Strategic Studies of the Ministry of Defence. As a citizen of this country who feels affected by this decision, I believe I now have a legitimate right to demand (after the recent constitutional amendment) that we, the so-called sovereign people, be informed of the reason for what I would describe as a decision which is not in the interest of the country. I do hope it is not because this office was established during the period of the last administration and also that it is not some ludicrous act to “teach the former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa a lesson”, for I believe the office was established during his tour of duty. This appears to be a ridiculous decision.

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The paramount consideration of any country is its security. Today, threats to security takes sophisticated forms such as for instance the cyber terror, which have even upset the US. Today’s technology has enhanced the capabilities for so-called intelligence organisations such as the CIA, the RAW, the ISI, the MI6, MOSAD etc to destabilise and even overthrow a regime they dislike. In the circumstances we should be extra vigilant we should have the wherewithal to take preemptive action if we perceive any threat to national security. Although we had a war for over thirty years, and though it had an international dimension with India and many countries of the West involving themselves in various ways, we did not have a separate office to study the different strategic aspects and formulate policy.

We lacked a professional approach to the issue. Devoting special attention to security strategy is absolutely vital to establish stable and lasting peace. Diplomacy, intelligence gathering and international cooperation are vital and this is where an office of Strategic Studies becomes important. Do we today have a political, economic and social strategy to consolidate the peace we have achieved? This, I believe, was the role of the office that has been closed down. Almost all developed countries recognize the importance of having a strategy and have set up state agencies to advise them on strategy. The subject is also taught in universities in developed countries.

I have had a personal interest in the subject and, therefore, have followed the work done by this agency, which had the good fortune of having a wholly committed, apolitical, professional officer as its chief who worked tirelessly on a strategy to professionalize the police in particular. It is, indeed, a pity that we closed this important agency; we have shot ourselves in the foot. I hope that the government would do a rethink in the interest of our country.

 

 

 

6 Responses to “Are we jeopardising national security?”

  1. Fran Diaz Says:

    Our thanks to Mr Godage for highlighting this piece of news. Yes, we are jeopadising a hard won victory over terrorism.
    Do some in the present GoSL want a recurrence of the same problem ?

    There was also a news item that some 50 plus Army camps in the N&E were closed. Is this correct ?

    There was another news item that Ranil W. had closed the Navy training centre in the North. Is this correct ?

  2. Fran Diaz Says:

    There is a news item in the Derana newssite of today (June 23) that the GoSL may likely purchase some multi-purpose aircraft, the G-17 Thunder aircraft. If this purchase goes through, Lanka will be first foreign country to do !

    Why make such purchases of aircraft when the cry of the times from the People is for CLEAN DRINKING WATER for the Provinces ? Reverse Osmosis Units for each Province will ensure that. Clean drinking water will ensure a sharp drop in the spread of CKD disease.

    GoSL must get the spending priorites right or depart.

  3. Indrajith Says:

    I agree with Fran. We’ve more than enough fighter jets and there is no war on sight. why we need another aircrafts? Moreover from a questionable country like Pakistan. Remember the ammunitions we bought from that country during the war had to be returned several times as they were of very inferior quality. Do we want to play with the lives of some fighter jet pilots? I think the commission from this Yahapalana deal is so great that some kakkas have promoted it.

  4. Fran Diaz Says:

    The Parliament of Lanka ought to question this purchase of fighter jets. Our MPs have to grow up and meet the needs of the People, not needs of pocket stuffers. Times are such that pocket stuffing should be out of the question for a while.

  5. Lorenzo Says:

    GR to presidency!

  6. Independent Says:

    Is this a treat against National Security ?

    New twists emerge in Eknaligoda’s case

    June 24, 2015 04:05 pm

    Details on 22 mobile phones, which were used to contact missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, have been disclosed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the police Spokesperson said.

    Spokesperson ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said that the CID will attempt to trace the persons who used these mobile phones. “Using the IMEI numbers, the police will also try to locate the persons who imported these devices. A court order has already been issued to the Sri Lanka Customs to produce a report in this regard,” he said.

    He also went into say that the court has also directed the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) to issue a report in connection with the phone calls made to Eknaligoda with these mobile phones.

    “The CID will take further measures after considering these two pending reports,” Gunasekara added.

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