Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 21 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release:
The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka, conducted a three-day high-level on-site consultation from 9 to 11 September 2026 in Colombo, aimed at supporting Sri Lanka's ongoing efforts to strengthen its national counter-terrorism framework and enhance the effectiveness of its existing counter-terrorism mechanisms.
The consultation brought together senior representatives and subject-matter experts from the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Australian High Commission, British High Commission, United Nations Country Team, and other international and national institutions. The programme provided an important platform for exchanging international experiences, identifying strategic priorities and discussing opportunities to further strengthen Sri Lanka's comprehensive approach to countering terrorism.
The CTED delegation was headed by Ms. Carmen Cantor, Deputy Executive Director of CTED, and included Ms. Svetlana Matynova, Chief of the Americas and Asia-Pacific Section and Senior Legal Officer, CTED; Mr. Jean-Philippe Morange, Border Management and Law Enforcement Coordinator; Mr. Matteo Sestito, Legal Officer; Ms. Nesrine Elmansouri, Human Rights Officer; and Ms. Arianna Lepore, Coordinator, Next Generation Terrorism and Strategic Response, UNODC.
The international expert component further included Mr. Thorsten Wetzling, Subject Matter Expert on Counter-Terrorism Data Regimes; Mr. Robert Aboumitri, International Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence Analysis Specialist; Ms. Judith Lichtenberg, Deputy Chair of the Dutch Review Committee on Intelligence and Security Services (CTIVD); and Mr. Yacine Touizrar, Director within the Review Branch of Canada's National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA), who participated online.
The Australian delegation comprised Mr. Steve Biddle, Minister Counsellor, South Asia, Department of Home Affairs; Ms. Kirsty Duncan, First Secretary, Department of Home Affairs; Mr. Tom Soper, First Secretary for Political Affairs; and Mr. Raman Chettiar, Second Secretary for Political Affairs. The United Nations Country Team was represented by Ms. Nethmini Madawala, Peace and Development Analyst, Office of the Resident Coordinator.
On the Sri Lankan side, the consultation was attended by Mrs. Indika Wijegunawardana, Acting Secretary of Defence, Major General (Dr.) Nalinda Niyangoda, Chief of National Intelligence and Mr. Thushara Rodrigo, Director General, International Security Cooperation and Public Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism along with the Senior Officials representing Ministry of Defence.
The consultation brought together 44 participants representing key national institutions and agencies, including the Attorney General's Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Immigration and Emigration, National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organizations, Sri Lanka Customs, Department of the Registrar of Companies, Bureau of Rehabilitation, Border Risk Assessment Centre, Defence Cyber Command, State Intelligence Service, Counter Terrorism and Investigation Division and military, naval and air intelligence agencies.
The discussions focused on a broad range of strategic and operational areas relevant to Sri Lanka's counter-terrorism architecture, including the national terrorist threat assessment and strategic context; development and implementation of an effective National Counter-Terrorism Strategy; international legal frameworks and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions; strengthening risk-based law-enforcement responses; criminal justice responses to terrorism; countering the financing of terrorism; addressing conditions conducive to terrorism; border security and management; protection of critical infrastructure and soft targets; and institutional coordination and accountability.
The consultation also provided an opportunity for Sri Lankan stakeholders to share the country's experiences, institutional perspectives and existing mechanisms in addressing terrorism and related security challenges, while benefiting from comparative international experiences and good practices from different jurisdictions.
A particular emphasis was placed on the importance of developing a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable national counter-terrorism framework, supported by effective inter-agency cooperation, risk-based approaches, appropriate legal and institutional mechanisms, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and alignment with relevant international obligations and standards.
As part of the continued engagement, CTED expressed its readiness to provide further technical and professional assistance to the Government of Sri Lanka in reviewing and strengthening the country's counter-terrorism landscape, including through an assessment of existing mechanisms and strategic arrangements against relevant United Nations Security Council requirements and international good practices.
The consultation represents an important milestone in Sri Lanka's continued engagement with the United Nations and international partners on counter-terrorism and contributes to the country's broader efforts to strengthen its national security architecture through a whole-of-government and comprehensive approach to preventing and countering terrorism.
Sri Lanka and CTED reaffirmed the value of continued technical cooperation and dialogue in strengthening national capacities, enhancing institutional coordination and supporting the development of an effective and forward-looking national counter-terrorism framework.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
