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South African High Commissioner meets Director General

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The High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Sri Lanka,
His Excellency S. E. Schalk met with the Director General Amb. Pamela J Deen on 7th June 2022.

Upon congratulating the newly appointed High Commissioner, Director General provided insight with regard to the academic activities of the BIDTI. Discussions were focused on following up decisions of the Sri Lanka – South Africa Partnership Forum and cooperation between the diplomatic training institutes of both countries.

High Commissioner briefed on activities undertaken by him upon joining the South African diplomatic service. His involvement in the work of transforming the Organisation of the African Union (OAU) into the African Union (AU). He also played an active role in establishing commissions and in resolving disputes of countries in Africa. Prior to joining the South African Diplomatic Service, High Commissioner Schalk had been in academia as Professor in Political Science, International Relations and African Political Economy. He was also involved in teaching at the Diplomatic Academy of South Africa prior to arriving in Sri Lanka.

Director General assured cooperation of the BIDTI in connecting two diplomatic institutes, in order to achieve goals, set by the partnership forum. She also extended best wishes to the High Commissioner for a successful and pleasant assignment during his stay in Sri Lanka.

High Commissioner was accompanied by Third Secretary (Political) of the South African High Commission, Ms. Zanethemba Tshangela to the meeting.

Bilateral & Multilateral negotiations at the BIDTI

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The BIDTI assessed the Bilateral and Multilateral negotiations performed by participants of the XXIVth Diploma in Diplomacy & World Affairs on 20th January and 1st February 2022 respectively.

Introduced to the Diploma course a year ago, these simulation exercises enable participants to experience proceedings conducted in Bilaterally as well as in Multilateral fora. Those assignments also equip participants to develop leadership skills.

Bangladesh Cadets interact with the BIDTI

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An eighteen-member delegation from the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh met with the Director General of the BIDTI on Friday 21st January 2022. Sixteen cadets who joined the Foreign Service Academy last year were led by officials of the Academy Director Farhana Ahmed Chowdhhury and Assistant Secretary Dattasree Rajib Kumar. The Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Sri Lanka Md. Reyad Hossain accompanied the delegation to the interactive session.

Welcoming the delegation to Sri Lanka as well as to the BIDTI, Amb. Pamela J. Deen congratulated the cadets in joining the Diplomatic Service which is one of the oldest professions in the world. She emphasised the importance of building relationships with their counterparts, which would benefit their respective countries enhancing closer cooperation between nations.

Furthermore, elaborating on the friendly relations enjoyed between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Amb. Deen reminisced close cooperation Sri Lankan diplomats had with their Bangladeshi colleagues. Further, she briefed on interactions the BIDTI had with diplomats of Bangladesh attending Technical Cooperation Programmes organised since 2000 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She also congratulated them on the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh, and acknowledged the impressive economic growth of the country.

The BIDTI resumes academic activities in physical setting

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With the dawn of year 2022, the BIDTI resumed academic activities with the physical attendance of participants. It would allow participants to get the maximum benefit through interacting with resource persons and fellow peers, thus enhancing the benefit of the course.

Accordingly, activities in physical settings commenced with the lecture on Global Health Diplomacy on 4th January conducted by Dr. Sapumal Dhanapala, National Programme Officer of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Sri Lanka. Followed by lectures on ‘Facing Media Interviews’ conducted by Ms. Savithri Rodrigo, a leading media personality, on ‘Climate Diplomacy’ by Dr. L. Batuwitage, Consultant in Sustainable Development and the ‘History of Defence Services of Sri Lanka’ by the former Army Commander, General C.S.Weerasooriya.

The Diploma Course gives an opportunity to acquire a variety of skills and knowledge disseminated by experts/professionals in their respective fields.

Every year the BIDTI adds new topics of importance to the curriculum of the Diploma course to create awareness  of global issues for its participants.