Guest Lecture on “The US’s Indo-Pacific Strategy-Implications for small island states

A Guest Lecture organized by the Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University was held on Monday, 27th February 2023 at the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) auditorium. The resource person, Rear admiral (Retd) Peter Gumataotao, US Navy, Director of DKI-APCSS delivered a discourse on the topic, “The US’s Indo-Pacific Strategy-Implications for small island states”. The lecture was coordinated by the Head of the Department, Department of Strategic Studies, Dr. Harinda Vidanage.

The Vice-Chancellor of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Major General Milinda Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil (Ind) marked the commencement of the program by welcoming the distinguished invitees, Mr.Gumataotao and Mr. Shyan Tekwani from DKI-APCSS. He highlighted the importance of the discussion with the students and did not forget to pay his gratitude and to indicate how the university is truly honoured to have Rear admiral (Retd) Peter Gumataotao, Director of DKI-APCSS, as the keynote speaker. Mr. Sathees Mohan, senior lecturer from the faculty delivered the vote of thanks, the end of a productive and successful event.

Mr. Gumataotao made the session insightful and meaningful by involving the attendees-undergraduates of the Faculty of Defense and Strategic Studies- in an interactive Q & A session. Moreover, he walked the students through a series of thought-provoking demonstrations making the discussion enriching and informative.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Defence and Admin), the Dean, the Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies, Senior Officers of KDU, all the Officers, Lecturers, Officer Cadets, and Day-Scholars of FDSS were present on this occasion.