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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in collaboration with the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) organized a Two day Seminar on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Humanitarian Diplomacy on 17^th & 18^th July, 2025.

The seminar was tailored specially for the mid-level officers of the key government institutes including Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism and Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force.

The event gave a comprehensive knowledge on how IHL is applied in an armed conflict, methods of warfare and contemporary challenges in armed conflict, application of IHL in post conflict situations with a focus on the missing persons, a peacekeeping operations, protecting and facilitating impartial humanitarian work as well as panel discussions on Humanitarian Diplomacy.

Earlier, in September, 2023 a similar programme exclusively organized for the senior and mid-level officers of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service and Officers of the Sri Lanka Administrative Officers serving in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to create awareness as well as to build capacity of all stakeholders involved in the implementation of IHL.

The two day event held at the Hotel Taj Samudra, was attended by thirty two officers nominated by the respective authorities.

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 27^th 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 9^th July, 2025 at the BMICH.

A session on ‘Etiquette of hosting Dinners / Luncheons’ held at the BIDTI on 24^th April 2025 to participants of the XXX^th Diploma Course. The simulation exercise was conducted by the prominent Etiquette Trainer Mrs. Krishanti Weerakoon.

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

Participants of XXIX^th 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 2^nd 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.

Participants of the XXIX^th 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 7^th 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.