Press Release 

Admiral Dr Jayanath Colombage, a distinguished fellow of the Pathfinder Foundation, took part in the 12^th Beijing Xiangshan Press Release

Pathfinder Foundation Participates in 12^th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in China

Admiral Dr Jayanath Colombage, a distinguished fellow of the Pathfinder Foundation, took part in the 12^th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, held in Beijing, China,  representing the Pathfinder Foundation and Sri Lanka.

This year’s forum was held under the main theme of Upholding International Order and Promoting Peaceful Development,” with the participation of over 1000 senior military and defence leaders, academics, and researchers. Several concurrent sessions were held on selected topics under the forum’s central focus.

Admiral Colombage delivered a paper titled Trends in Major Country Relations: Perspective from the Majority of Littoral States in the Indian Ocean Region”. He focused on the unpredictable nature of modern conflicts and their unintended consequences for many nations, including those not directly involved. He pointed out that countries are becoming increasingly interconnected, and no nation benefits from confrontation.

Admiral Dr Jayanath Colombage, a distinguished fellow of the Pathfinder Foundation,  highlighted long-term challenges such as development gaps, climate change, threats from non-state actors, and the need for collective responses. He also emphasised the importance of mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, advocating a people-centric approach that concentrates on tangible outcomes and adherence to international law. Admiral Colombage underlined the significance of quality infrastructure for many Indian Ocean littorals. Additionally, he noted that numerous Indian Ocean littorals hope to see positive trends in major-country relations, which could promote growth and position the region as a bridge rather than a battleground within Indian Ocean power dynamics. He stressed that the urgent priority is a multilateral approach to shared spaces like the Indian Ocean, encouraging all countries to be partners in progress rather than risking mutual destruction.