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Lanka should be ready for Cyber-Warfare – Subramanian Swamy
Lanka may be a small island compared to China, Russia, the US or India, yet if Sri Lanka develops expertise, the country would be equal to all other countries when it comes to cyber-warfare, said Eminent scholar and Member of Indian Parliament, Dr Subramanian Swamy.
Speaking at the Security Salon on “National Security in the 21st Century” conducted by the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS) at the Nandimithra Auditorium of the Ministry of Defence, in Colombo on Wednesday Dr Swamy said: “National Security in the 21st century is not about advancing armies or aeroplanes flying above… and no country is big or small. All countries are superpowers or nothing, according to their preparation to meet cyberwarfare,” he stated, underscoring the need for countries to work out their objectives, priorities, strategy, and resource mobilisation that he termed the “four pillars” of national security.
There is no such thing called a ‘Big Country’ or a ‘Small Country’ in the new domain & new structure of national security, especially when it comes to cyber-warfare, he said.
He said if Sri Lanka takes on the determination to be a cyberwar capable country in the next 15 years, Sir Lanka will become one of the world powers.
‘The problem with cyber warfare is, you just don’t know where they are. Today, if a rocket is fired you can track it. But, in cyber warfare you have absolutely no idea until someone claims responsibility for it,” said the BJP MP adding there is no longer a frontline or captured territory in cyber-warfare.
Sri Lanka must have an objective to develop cyber tools and use it for its defence, he said.
Dr Swamy said that China was responsible for the March 2021, two-hour blackout in Bombay (Mumbai).
“Don’t push us too hard, or the lights will go out again, was the Chinese announcement,” said Dr Swamy.
As a priority, Sri Lanka must have cyber security, with its new area on currency as well, as currency like Bitcoin have made governments irrelevant, he said.
“When it comes to cyber currency, there is no way that a government can control it. Yet, people have already started making billions from it. That capacity of its misuse is enormous,” he added noting that it is the same with cyber technology, where if it falls into the hands of a terrorist, there will be no way of knowing where they are attacking from.
The education you get should be more oriented toward learning about cyber warfare, said Dr Swamy.
“We need to give up the concept of Big-Strong nations, Global Powers, and so on. These wars may be bilateral. But multilateral wars with cyber-warfare will mean the end of the earth,” he added, noting there will be no way to save the earth, though we survived during World War I and II.
“World War III will be the last war we will ever be fighting if it happens,” he warned.
Countries must get together and pool resources to develop each other’s cyber warfare capabilities or intelligence capability including education, he added.
“A Prime Minister should not be a person who does not understand cyber warfare. He needs to be well aware,” he said commenting on global leadership, adding future politicians must also be aware.
Dr Subramanian Swamy, an economist, said if Sri Lanka makes the correct economic policies, the resources will not be a problem.
Sri Lanka must be cyber technology savvy to survive as a nation, or you will be at the mercy of those who are, said the BJP Strongman.
“I don’t think the 21st Century Security should worry you. We are potentially able to develop a system that is superior to everybody else,” he remarked.
“I think the civil society needs to be educated in the essentials of the army,” he noted while adding that the present-day military has also become cyber dependent.
The Security Saloon was chaired by Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne and moderated by Prof. Rohan Gunaratna, Director General, INSS.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
