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Kuru-Utumpala shares her experience in meeting challenges while scaling Everest

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The first Sri Lankan to summit Mount Everest Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala shared her experience in confronting challenges while scaling it.  Delivering a special guest lecture on ‘Challenging Gender Stereotypes to Reach the Top’ on 25th April 2025 at the BIDTI, she elaborated on the complications faced not only due to the stark climate conditions but also as a female.

   

At the outset, Kuru-Utumpala emphasized the importance of acclimatization when a decision is taken to go for a trekking.  In this regard, she explained her determination to proceed scaling the Everest, despite non availability of trekking equipment as well as outfits for women.

   

She enlightened the audience of the gender stereotypes and challenges facing when winning goals in the global arena as well. Further, she mentioned of the improvement of the global trade environment particularly, manufacturing equipment with regard to hiking and climbing mountains in the Asian region.

   

 

Participants coming from different backgrounds attending the lecture raised questions not only on speaker’s accomplishment but also on how to prepare for a similar challenge.  Kuru-Utumpala interacted with all who raised queries providing satisfactory answers.

    

The special guest lecture on ‘Challenging Gender Stereotypes to Reach the Top’ was organised by the BIDTI under the special events of the Institute launched in 2019.

   

Head of the UNIDIR visits the BIDTI

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Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) Dr. Robin Geiss visited the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) on 24th April, 2025.

    

The Director General of the BIDTI Pamela J. Deen briefed him of the activities of the Institute highlighting disarmament as a key area of its curriculum.  She apprised him that a number of Sri Lankan diplomats who were recipients of UN Disarmament Fellowships had contributed to the global disarmament activities. Further, she recalled efforts of Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala who served as the Director of the UNIDIR from 1987 to 1992 and the UN Under Secretary General of Disarmament Affairs from 1998 to 2003.

   

They discussed the possible collaboration between the BIDTI and the UNIDIR to create awareness in the field of disarmament and peacebuilding. In this connection, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism has proposed to enter into a MoU between the two Institutes.

While Ms. Fanny Sebban, Associate Political Affairs Officer of the UNIDIR accompanied Dr Geiss and Ms. Dinushi Rupathunga of the UN & HR Division of the Ministry attended the meeting.

 

Training on ‘Tea Serving’

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Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) conducted a training programme on ‘Tea Serving Etiquette’ for the Office Assistants of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB). The training held on 25th March 2025 at the Institute attended by twenty one participants comprised from the Head Office as well as Regional Offices of the EDB.

Participants had a briefing on different occasions of offering tea service and the etiquette needs to follow according to the event.

     

     

     

     

Engagement in Multilateral Negotiations

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Participants of XXIXth Diploma in Diplomacy & World Affairs Programme had the opportunity of displaying their skills in multilateral negotiations recently (28/01) at the BIDTI.

   

   

‘Multilateral Negotiations’ is the second part of the assignment relevant to the 2nd Module of the Diploma conducted to assess participants’ competency in negotiating at a multilateral forum.  Previously, they fulfilled the first part of the assignment ‘Bilateral Negotiations’ of the Module.

   

 

The engagement allowed participants to learn how to negotiate as delegates of countries belonged to different regional groups of the United Nations while upholding interests of their own country. It also helped them to get together with likeminded countries having similar views and limitations, to work out strategies to safeguard their interests.

   

   

XXXth Diplomacy & World Affairs Programme inaugurated at the BIDTI

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Inauguration of the XXXth Course of the Diploma in Diplomacy & World Affairs programme of the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) took place on Wednesday, 5th February, 2025. At the outset, the Director General welcomed participants giving a brief introduction of the Institute. She mentioned that in spite of the BIDTI being the teaching institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; since its inception conducted programmes for the public who are interested in learning of diplomatic skills and conduct of international relations.  Further, she highlighted the importance of following the global events, which has an impact on each one in the globalized world.

   

  

Ms. Theshani Milindi Weligamage, a former student and the recipient of the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Award of the XXV Diploma in Diplomacy & World Affairs programme shared her experience as a student at the BIDTI.  She also made a presentation giving an overall idea to follow successfully the programme and its activities.

  

Participants from various backgrounds including undergraduates to post-graduate level from the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, Legal, Medical, Military, as well as Banks and Private sector have joined the XXX programme.

Panel Discussion on ‘Trump 2.0 – Impact on South Asia’

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The Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) in collaboration with the Centre for Law & Security Studies (CLASS) conducted a panel discussion on ‘Trump 2.0 – Impact on South Asia’ on Thursday 30th January 2025 at the Institute.

While Prof. Rohan Samarajiva Chair of Lirneasia, Ms. Subhashini Abeysinghe  Research Director of Verité Research and Mr. Nilanthan Niruthan Executive Director of  CLASS served as Panelists,  introductory remarks was delivered by the former Executive Director of the United States – Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission Mr. Tissa Jayatilaka. A scholar Mr. Shakthi De silva served as the Moderator.

   

Delivering introductory remarks, Mr. Tissa Jayatilaka, who is a keen follower of the US politics, briefly described the history of the US administration analyzing the foreign policy of the US administration, especially on Trump administration policy towards the Asian region.

   

   

Panelists expressed views arguing the challenges faced by the region under the Trump administration. Prof. Samarajiva referred to the US economy since the great depression and the recession of 2008. He explained the realignment of likeminded states based on the national interest.

   

   

Ms. Abeysinghe focusing on tariffs, shed light on how countries in Asia especially China, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh and India increased their quota while Sri Lanka failed to adapt. Further, she mentioned these countries would adjust themselves to meet impediments relevant to the new tariffs introduced by President Trump.

Referring to geopolitics and challenges relevant to each region, Mr. Niruthan explained that Trump administration might not have time to focus on the South Asia.

Upon completion of remarks of Panelists, the Moderator posed questions to them prior to opening the Q & A session.

   

A large number of participants including former Foreign Secretaries, Ambassadors, former Parliamentarians, Heads of Institutes, media personnel, service personnel, undergraduates and students attended the event.

   

   

   

Display of Negotiating Skills

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Participants of the XXIXth Diploma in Diplomacy & World Affairs Programme of the BIDTI had an opportunity to display their skills in negotiations recently.

 

   

   

In the curriculum of the Diploma, participants are educated negotiating skills in bilateral as well as multilateral fora. In order to evaluate their skills the BIDTI conducts mockup sessions. Participants of XXIX Diploma programme exhibited their skills in bilateral negotiations on 7th January 2025 at the institute.

   

 

   

Approximately sixty participants divided into groups attended the exercise based on a case study to negotiate a text of a reciprocal visa agreement between two fictitious countries.

GCSP visits BIDTI

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A team of officials accompanied by Col (GS) Dr. Laurent Currit, Head of Defence & Diplomacy of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) visited the BIDTI on 4th December, 2024 to discuss the 7th International Defence Attachés Programme to be held in Colombo in May 2025. The Defence Attaché Orientation Programme was introduced to Sri Lanka in 2016 and established in collaboration with the Office of Chief of Defence Staff and the BIDTI.

The GCSP is an International Foundation established in Switzerland dedicated to promote Peace, Security and Stability through education, research and dialogue.