Meets with Commanding Generals of the US Pacific Command (USPACOM)

Ambassador Devinda R. Subasinghe participated at a conference entitled “Ethnic Minorities and Great Power Strategies in Asia” organized by the Asia - Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) in Hawaii, from October 12-15. The APCSS is a US Department of Defense regional study, conference, and research center established in Honolulu on September 4, 1995. The Center supports the US Pacific Command (PACOM) and complements PACOM’s theater security cooperation strategy of maintaining positive security relationships with nations in the Asia Pacific region.

Ambassador Subasinghe speaking of the Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies (APCSS)

The conference was designed to address the impact of the global war on terrorism on regional perceptions of ethnic and religious activism, the opportunities made available to Chinese, Russian and Indian security strategists in the form of ethnic diasporas and the implications for US security strategy of Asian diaspora activity in the US, Great Power manipulation and exploitation of ethnic diasporas and ethnic minority separatist challenges to Russia, China and India. The Ambassador spoke on the country perspectives module where he explained the situation in Sri Lanka leading to the present status quo.

Ambassador Subasinghe with Commander Pacific Air Forces General Paul V. Hester

Following on the visit to the US Pacific Command in June 2003, Ambassador Subasinghe met with Commander, Pacific Air Forces, General Paul V. Hester at the Hickam Air Force Base; Commander US Army Pacific Lieutenant General John M. Brown III at Fort Shafter; Deputy Commander US Pacific Fleet Rear Admiral Jay Donnely; Director for Strategic Planning and Policy Major General Karl Eikenberry at Camp H M Smith; and Head of Intelligence Rear Admiral Jack Dorsett. The meetings were “extremely beneficial and fruitful” the Ambassador stated.

Ambassador Subasinghe with Commander US Army Pacific Lt. Gen. John M. Brown III

The Ambassador was accompanied by the Defence, Military, Naval and Air Attaché for Sri Lanka in the US, Brigadier Rohan Jayasinghe.

Sri Lanka’s Honorary Consul in Hawaii, Mrs. Kusuma Cooray hosted a dinner for Ambassador Subasinghe. Dinner guests included General and Mrs. Hester, Lt. Gen. and Mrs Brown, General Lance Lord Commander US Space Command and Director East-West Center Professor Charles Morrison.

Ambassador Subasinghe, Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Hawaii Mrs. Kusuma Cooray, Defence, Military, Naval and
Air Attachè Brig. Rohan Jayasinghe

The Ambassador also met with the Sri Lankan community at an informal dinner ably arranged by Sri Lanka’s Honorary Consul in Hawaii, Mrs Kusuma Cooray.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington DC
USA

18 October 2004