Commander of the Navy underlines the importance of international rules of naval warfare

The 06^th Asia-Pacific Symposium organized by the Sri Lanka Navy and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) began under the patronage of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva at the Galle Face Hotel today (19^th November).

The theme of this year’s symposium is the Law of Naval Warfare (International Humanitarian Law) and its discussions will focus on the challenges and complexities of naval warfare as well as outlining the specific traits of humanitarian action at sea.

Addressing the august gathering, Commander of the Navy underlined the importance of international rules of naval warfare and briefly explained the principals of naval warfare such as military necessity, distinction, limitation, proportionality and humanity. In this context, the Navy Commander also urged naval officers to be competent in terms of mindfulness, comprehension, knowledge and concentration in the context of naval warfare, while respecting the principals of warfare and also adhering to the sanctions given by the law.

Around 26 naval officers from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Timor East, Vietnam and Sri Lanka attended this year’s symposium.

Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Head of Delegation of the ICRC in Sri Lanka, Mr. Loukas Petridis, Defence Attachés, distinguished speakers and recourse personnel, officers from foreign navies as well as Sri Lanka Navy were present on this occasion.