Month: August 2025

26th Convocation of the BIDTI

by

The Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) held its 26th Convocation on 15th July, 2025 at the Lotus Hall of the BMICH with the presence of the Hon. H. M. Vijitha Herath M. P., Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism as the Chief Guest. He was accompanied by the Guest of Honour, the Hon. Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Employment and Ambassador Aruni Ranaraja, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism. The 26th Convocation comprised of participants of the 9th Post Graduate Diploma in Diplomacy & World Affairs programme and XXVII & XXVIII Diploma in Diplomacy & World Affairs Programmes.

 

   

Director General of the BIDTI, Ambassador Pamela J. Deen welcoming guests congratulated the prospective awardees for their dedication in following respective programmes by going through a challenging and an arduous process to become recipients of awards and certificates. She also appreciated the commitment and the support extended to the Institute by the members of academia and other professionals. A short documentary relevant to activities conducted since the last convocation held in 2024 displayed to create awareness of the BIDTI programmes to the audience.

   

   

The Guest of Honour Hon. Arun Hemachandra, congratulating the prospective awardees for their achievement, appreciated the contribution made by the BIDTI in their journey of learning process. He added that the BIDTI not only shaping the next generation of diplomats but also service to the nation. Referring to the people centric policy followed by the government, he mentioned that in this era, diplomacy is rooted in the people. Thus, need of the country should come first and engage the world without compromising the dignity of the nation.

   

   

Delivering the keynote address, the Chief Guest Hon. Vijitha Herath praised the achievements of the prospective awardees regardless of the strenuous academic journey endured. He appreciated the contribution of the academia and the BIDTI for nurturing new generation of diplomats. Further, he said that the diploma awarded is not only a certificate it is a window of opportunity to engage with the outside world. He mentioned that when representing the country priority of a diplomat is promoting and safeguarding the national interest.  Referring to the foreign policy, he said that the government practice non-alignment as a corner stone of its policy, enabling to engage with all with enmity to none.

 

   

   

The Convocation took place among a distinguished gathering of Ambassadors and High Commissioners, members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of International Organisations, former Foreign Secretaries and Ambassadors, former Commanders of the Army and Navy, members of the Board of Management of the LKIIRSS, members of the Academia, representatives of the Tri Forces, Senior Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as family members of awardees.

   

   

Awards and certificates presented to prospective awardees by the Chief Guest, the Guest of Honour and the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism. Director General of the BIDTI presented mementoes to the Hon. Minister, Hon. Deputy Minister and to the Secretary of the Ministry as a token of appreciation to their support given to the Institute.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

BIDTI collaborates with the ICRC in promoting International Humanitarian Law

by

A Panel discussion on ‘A Call to Preserve Humanity in War: The Initiative towards making International Humanitarian Law (IHL) a Global Priority’ was jointly organized by the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recently.

The Panel discussion was based on the ‘Global Initiative’ launched in New York on 27th September 2024 by six states namely Brazil, China, Jordan, Kazakhstan and South Africa together with the ICRC in response to the urgent need for collective action and political will to respect IHL and restore humanity.

Delivering the inaugural remarks Director General of the BIDTI Ambassador Pamela J. Deen stated that today we live in a more uncertain and perilous world. Thus, predictability and stability of a rules-based international order, marked by mutual respect and careful action, can no longer be taken for granted. The use of force, even at the risk of dangerous escalation, is becoming more common, and protracted conflict is becoming the norm. Multiple, simultaneous crises and conflicts across the globe strain the attention and resources of states, international bodies, and the public-at-large. Under these circumstances, the risk of transgressions of International Humanitarian Law has been greatly increased, together with the chance of impunity for its perpetrators. Therefore, it is more vital than ever to safeguard, spread, and uphold the knowledge and application of International Humanitarian Law.

   

 

The keynote speaker Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, the former Foreign Secretary  and the former Executive Director of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS), commended organisers for convening the timely event mentioning the prevailing global conflict situation. Referring to the history of the internal  uprising as well as the civil war in Sri Lanka, he appreciated the role played by the ICRC during the war and the post war period.

 

   

The Panel comprising of H. E. Sandile Schalk, High Commissioner for South Africa, Ambassador of France H. E. Rémi Lambert, ICRC  Regional Adviser for South Asia Prof. Andrey Kozik, and Deputy Legal Adviser of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and Chairperson of the National IHL Committee of Sri Lanka Ms. Tilani Silva deliberated on the topic. Panelists gave a comprehensive account of the topic and the importance of creating awareness of International Humanitarian Law.

    

   

The panel discussion was followed by a dynamic Q&A session from the audience comprising of members of the diplomatic corps, academia, military, civil society and media attending the event held on 9th July, 2025 at the BMICH.