Business

LKI – ICRC seminar discusses Contemporary Challenges Concerning AI and Autonomous Weapons Systems

Published

1 year ago

2024/12/31

Dignitaries making their presentations at the symposium.

The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI), in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) hosted a panel discussion titled, ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI), Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS) and Contemporary Challenges’ at the LKI Lighthouse Auditorium on 19 December 2024. It was attended by diplomats, representatives of International Organizations, senior officials of relevant Ministries and agencies, military personnel, leading researchers and university students.

Delivering the keynote address at the event, the Additional Secretary for East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Yasoja Gunasekera, underscored the urgent need for global action to regulate Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Weapons Systems. She emphasized that while AI has become integral to numerous sectors, its growing presence on the battlefield raises profound concerns regarding its application in weapon systems. The Additional Secretary recalled that it was under the Chairmanship of Sri Lanka in 2015, that the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) agreed to elevate the discussion of LAWS from an informal expert led discussion to a State-led dialogue, leading to the establishment of the first meeting of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) at the 2016 CCW Review Conference. She noted that in addition to actively engaging in the GGE, in October 2021 Sri Lanka together with a wide cross regional group of 70 states co-sponsored the first Joint Statement on LAWS at the UNGA, and supported the adoption of the ‘the Pact for the Future’ adopted by the UNGA in September 2024. Sri Lanka strongly supports the negotiation of a legally binding instrument to prohibit and regulate LAWS and supports the UN Secretary General and the President of the ICRC’s joint appeal to establish new rules on AWS by 2026.

Earlier welcoming the gathering, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, Executive Director of the LKI, said the event was intended to salute the role played by the ICRC which commemorated the 75th anniversary of the operation of the Geneva Conventions, without which the world might have been a different place. He recalled the ICRC’s contributions to Sri Lanka since establishing a presence in 1989, particularly during the armed conflict –escorting food and civilian convoys to the North and the East, facilitating immunization drives, passing messages between the parties in conflict and enabling the return of the wounded and the dead on both sides, and post conflict assistance in mine clearance, disaster response, and in the search for missing persons. Across time the ICRC had also played an important role in training the Security Forces on IHL compliance and engaged in prison visitations and supported the improvement of prison conditions. He observed that the theme of the discussion chosen on disarmament, besides being one where the ICRC and Sri Lanka closely collaborated globally, is the focus of several ongoing research endeavours of the LKI in recent times, along with ICT and its contemporary challenges.

Delivering the opening remarks, Severine Chappaz, Head of Delegation of the ICRC in Sri Lanka focused on the continued relevance of IHL. Stressing that the main responsibility to apply IHL in good faith lies with States to mitigate human suffering, she underlined the importance of making IHL a national and international political priority. She also emphasised on aspects of IHL that are particularly relevant to Sri Lanka, including the post-conflict application of IHL, which applies specifically to the issue of missing persons, their right to be searched for, the right of their families to know the fate and whereabouts of their missing loved ones and the obligation to prevent people from going missing. She also referred to the significance of national integration of IHL where the National IHL committee of Sri Lanka plays a key role, training the armed forces in IHL, and the dissemination of IHL through academic and religious circles. In her remarks, Sri Lanka’s international engagement in the promotion and development of IHL, notably in the field of disarmament regulations, was also recognised.

Prof. Andrei Kozik, Regional Legal Advisor – ICRC, highlighted the novel humanitarian and legal challenges posed by technological developments including AI and AWS. Delving into the subject, he drew attention to the unique characteristics of AWS that heighten risks for civilians and raise challenges for IHL compliance. In his presentation, Prof. Kozik also clarified the ICRC’s position on AWS, stating that the ICRC calls for new rules that prohibit the use of ‘unpredictable’ and ‘anti-personnel’ autonomous weapons systems. It was noted that in this context, ‘unpredictability’ refers to the discriminatory nature of AWS weapons while ‘anti-personnel’ refers to autonomous weapons designed or used to target humans directly. The ICRC’s report titled ‘International Humanitarian Law and the challenges of contemporary armed conflicts’ was referenced as a source to obtain an overview of some of the challenges for IHL posed by contemporary armed conflicts. The report broadly underscores the humanitarian consequences that could result from the potential loss of human control over the use of force in armed conflict.

Ms. Yanithra Kumaraguru, Sri Lankan Coordinator for the Global Campaign ‘Stop Killer Robots,’ underscored the critical role of ethics in shaping both the legal frameworks and the development of autonomous weapons, especially in areas where current laws may not provide clear guidance. She highlighted several key ethical concerns, including the challenge of ensuring that autonomous weapons comply with international humanitarian law principles and also questioned whether machines could reliably make life-and-death decisions without human biases, stressing the risks of errors that could lead to violations of human dignity. She further discussed the ‘moral accountability gap’, an ethical concern that extends beyond legal frameworks and asked whether responsibility for actions taken by autonomous weapons lies with designers, operators, or no one at all emphasizing the dehumanizing consequences of delegating such critical decisions to machines. Stressing the fact that some advocates for autonomous weapons argue that these technologies could lead to greater precision and fewer civilian casualties, Ms. Kumaraguru countered that technological limitations, the unpredictable nature of conflict and the human realities of conflict make such claims overly idealistic.

Colonel Nalin Herath, Director, Media and Spokesman of the Ministry of Defence and Head of the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS), while acknowledging the ethical challenges posed highlighted the transformative impact of AI on modern warfare emphasizing its potential for operational efficiency, noted how such weapons are reshaping combat strategies and in distinguishing civilians from military targets. He raised concern about the growing access of non-state actors to advanced technologies, which heightens unpredictability in conflicts and cautioned against the dangers posed by AI in terms of misinformation and disinformation. Stressing the absence of a global consensus on regulating AI in warfare, he called for caution and cooperation to ensure ethical use of AI and to prevent its misuse.

Prof. Ajith De Alwis, the Chief Innovation Officer of the National Innovation Agency (NIA) and Past President – Pugwash Sri Lanka, addressed the dual-use nature of science, technology, and innovation, particularly in the context of autonomous weapons systems and AI. He noted that since the Wright brothers’ revolutionary invention of flight in 1903 which within a decade was quickly adapted for bombing, historically technology had been weaponized. He pointed to the futility of questioning whether blame can be apportioned to autonomous weapons used in wars, what is more crucial is that states create the conditions to prevent wars from taking place in the first place. He emphasised the need for better prioritizing of the use of AWS, rather than banning per se, and advocated for leveraging AI and autonomous systems for humanity’s benefit rather than their weaponization. Pointing to the climate issue where time was running out and the emission trajectories being put into wrong trajectories by all the conflicts going on, he asked that researchers must be persuaded to become more socially responsible, as the scientists who walked out of the ‘Manhattan Project’ which pursued the creation of the atomic bomb. He also advocated strengthening a UN led global mechanism supporting whistle blowing and asked that we push ourselves to value humanity more – touching on the Pugwash principles.

Ambassador Aryasinha who moderated the panel discussion, reflecting on the challenges faced as Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva in presiding over the CCW during Sri Lanka’ Presidency of the CCW in 2015/2016 which secured a consensus to commence the discussion of LAWS at the level of States Parties nearly a decade ago, regretted that movement had been slow and that many relevant States needed for effective regulation of AWS, opposed or remained ambivalent in supporting such regulation.

All News Advertisement

Business

How middle powers cooperate to achieve shared goals

Published

6 hours ago

2026/02/17

Sahan Weerasooriya

Australian H.C. to Sri Lanka Matthew Duckworth (Left) addressing the round table. Pathfinder Foundation Chairman Ambassador (Rtd.) Dr. Bernard Goonathilake is next to him.

‘Australia’s engagement with institutions, such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and “minilateral” platforms, including the Quad and the Combined Maritime Force, are practical examples of middle powers working together to address shared challenges ranging from ocean piracy to humanitarian assistance, Australia High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Matthew Duckworth said at a recent round table forum featuring the media and other important sections, held at the Colombo Club of the Taj Samudra Hotel on the topic ‘Middle Power Diplomacy.’

The forum was organized and conducted by the Pathfinder Foundation of Sri Lanka under the moderation of the latter’s Chairman, Ambassador (Rtd.) Dr. Bernard Goonathilake.

High Commissioner Duckworth underscored that such cooperation is not directed against any particular country but aims to preserve an open, inclusive, and rules-based regional order.

H.C. Duckworth acknowledged the reality of major power competition while stressing that Australia seeks stable and respectful relations with all countries, including Sri Lanka, cooperating where possible and disagreeing where necessary, without compromising core national interests.

Further, the H.C. focused on India’s evolving role in the Indian Ocean, the trajectory of China’s rise, the durability of the current global order, alliance dynamics, and Sri Lanka’s positioning in the Indian Ocean.

Responding to a question about India, the High Commissioner affirmed that Australia expects all major powers—India, China, and the United States—to act transparently and to respect the sovereignty of smaller states. On whether the current emphasis on middle-power diplomacy is a temporary shift or a long-term trend, the High Commissioner stated that middle powers must now play a more visible and proactive role in sustaining international norms and institutions.

H.C. Duckworth added that Australia invests in Sri Lanka in sectors, such as, minerals, renewable energy, textiles and education services. The High Commissioner reiterated Australia’s support for open trade and deeper regional economic integration, emphasizing the importance of economic resilience in a contested global environment.

The Pathfinder Foundation is a Colombo-based think tank dedicated to fostering informed dialogue on foreign policy, economic development and strategic affairs.

By Hiran H Senewiratne

Business

Green Minds: A new platform to rethink environmental governance in Sri Lanka

Published

6 hours ago

2026/02/17

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Ministry of Environment yesterday launched a new knowledge-sharing platform titled Green Minds, aimed at strengthening environmental thinking and institutional capacity among public sector officials, at a time when Sri Lanka is facing mounting ecological stress and climate-related challenges.

The inaugural session of the monthly programme was held on February 12, 2026, at the Ministry auditorium under the patronage of Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, K. R. Uduwawala, with the participation of senior officials from the Ministry and its affiliated institutions.

Addressing the gathering, Secretary Uduwawala said that Green Minds was designed not merely as another training initiative, but as a thinking space for public officials to critically engage with emerging environmental concepts and global best practices.

“Environmental governance today is no longer limited to regulations and enforcement. It requires new ways of thinking, interdisciplinary approaches and continuous learning. Green Minds is intended to become a platform where officials can reflect, debate and update themselves on these evolving realities,” Uduwawala said.

He stressed that Sri Lanka’s environmental institutions must move beyond routine administrative practices and embrace knowledge-driven policy making, particularly in areas such as climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management and environmental justice.

The keynote lecture at the inaugural session was delivered by Senior Professor Siri Hettige, who spoke on the role of social sciences in achieving sustainable development in Sri Lanka. He highlighted the often overlooked social dimensions of environmental problems.

“Environmental issues are not purely scientific or technical. They are deeply social. Human behaviour, consumption patterns, inequality and governance structures all shape environmental outcomes,” Prof. Hettige said.

“If we want sustainability, we must understand society as much as we understand nature.”

He pointed out that many environmental policies fail because they do not adequately consider community realities, livelihoods and social power relations.

“You cannot conserve forests without understanding people. You cannot manage waste without understanding urban lifestyles. Sustainability is fundamentally a social project,” he added.

Following the keynote, a high-level panel discussion on strengthening environmental awareness brought together Prof. Hettige, Dr. Herath Vidyaratne, environmental policy analyst, Ravindra Kariyawasam, Adviser to the Minister of Environment, and S. C. Palamakumbura, Conservator General of Forests.

Kariyawasam said Sri Lanka was at a critical juncture where environmental decision making must be aligned with national development priorities.

“We can no longer treat the environment as a separate sector. It has to be integrated into economic planning, infrastructure development and social policy. Green Minds offers a space for officials to think beyond institutional silos,” he said.

Dr. Vidyaratne stressed that environmental literacy among state officials was essential in responding to complex challenges such as climate change, water scarcity and ecosystem degradation.

“The problems we face today are interconnected. Climate change is linked to food security, public health and migration. Officers need systems thinking, not just subject knowledge,” he said.

Meanwhile, Palamakumbura highlighted the importance of translating environmental awareness into institutional action.

“We have knowledge, laws and policies. What we need is consistent implementation and a shared environmental ethic across all institutions. Platforms like Green Minds can help build that collective responsibility,” he said.

He noted that forest conservation, wildlife protection and ecosystem restoration could not succeed without inter-agency cooperation and informed decision makers.

By Ifham Nizam

Business

Third quarter financials highlight 30% PBT growth for Aitken Spence in FY 2025/26

Published

6 hours ago

2026/02/17

Sahan Weerasooriya

Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena Chairman / Chairperson Aitken Spence PLC / Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake Deputy Chairman and Managing Director Aitken Spence PLC

Spanning tourism, maritime and freight logistics, strategic investments and services, with operations across the region, Aitken Spence PLC, with a legacy of over 157 years, continues to pursue excellence. The Group recorded revenue of Rs. 67 billion for the nine months ending 31st December 2025, underscoring a robust performance across its portfolio of industries. The Tourism sector accounted for 68% of Group revenue, while the Maritime & Freight Logistics sector and Strategic Investments sector contributed 18% and 12% respectively. Furthermore, the Group’s revenue for the third quarter improved by 3.8%, reflecting steady performance across key sectors.

The Group’s total Profit Before Tax (PBT) stood at Rs. 5.6 billion for the nine months ending 31st December 2025, compared to Rs. 4.3 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year, reflecting a growth of 30%. Correspondingly, the Group’s Profit After Tax improved by 42% to reach Rs. 3.4 billion.

Sectoral Performance

The Tourism sector recorded the most notable improvement during the period under review, reporting a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 2.0 billion for the nine months ended December 2025. This performance was primarily attributable to the sustained recovery and growth of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. In addition, the sector benefited from significant improvements in profitability at the Group’s Maldivian resorts, as well as enhanced operating performance across hotel operations in India and Oman.

The Group’s Maritime & Freight Logistics sector was the largest contributor to Profit Before Tax for the period under review, reporting a Profit Before Tax of Rs. 3.3 billion. Sector performance, however, was moderated by lower volumes and margin pressures, particularly impacting overseas freight and airline operations. This was reflected in the reduced contribution from the sector’s equity-accounted investee for the period.

In the Strategic Investments sector, the key contributing segments of printing and plantations both recorded stellar performance for the period under review despite the challenging market conditions of these industries, while the power generation segment witnessed a steady performance with notable contributions from the Waste-to-Energy and renewable power generation operations. However, the significant losses incurred in the apparel manufacturing segment impacted the overall performance of the sector, resulting in a loss of Rs. 652 million at PBT level.

The Services sector recorded strong growth during the period under review, driven primarily by the expansion of operations at Port City BPO, the Group’s most recent investment. This performance was further supported by improvements in performance by the Group’s elevators segment. As a result, the Services sector reported a Profit Before Tax of Rs. 843 million, compared to Rs. 114 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The period was marked by notable achievements:

Aitken Spence PLC became the first and only diversified holdings company in Sri Lanka to have its climate targets validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).