Galle Dialogue 12th edition in retrospect

The Galle Dialogue, initiated in 2010, the year after Sri Lanka brought what many pundits called an unwinnable war to a successful end, is the Navy’s annual flagship event, albeit entirely on land.

- By SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

The event, held over two days, is meant to underscore the importance of the role played by then Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda’s Navy in eradicating a formidable and growing challenge that may have posed a threat to maritime security.

This year’s conference was held on 24th and 25th September at the Wave n' Lake Navy hall, at Welisara. Perhaps many wouldn’t know that the construction of the multifunctional Wave n’ Lake hall, though commenced in late April 2021, under Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne’s leadership, had been opened in early October 2023.

Having retired in late December 2022, Ulugetenne received appointment as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Cuba, in mid-February 2024. The National People’s Power (NPP) government unceremoniously recalled him no sooner they came to power as if they had been ready to target him from the word go.

Last week’s conference was held under the theme ‘Maritime Outlook of the Indian Ocean under Changing Dynamics,’ with the participation of 34 countries and 14 international organisations.

Among those who had been appreciatively invited were all past commanders of the Navy. But, Ulugetenne, the 24th commander of the Navy, hadn’t been among those present at the inauguration of the event as he was in remand over an alleged postwar abduction. He, too, had rendered a yeoman service to the nation. The issue at hand is the alleged disappearance of Shantha Samaraweera, a resident of Kegalle. At the time of his alleged disappearance, he had been held in Trincomalee.

Two ex-intl chiefs remanded