Global terrorism, the threat and response - by Prof. Rohan Gunaratna

It is a timely topic that the Shippers’ Academy Colombo has brought into discussion, as the last decade the world has seen terrorism playing a significant role in the lives of global community. It has changed the way we do business and severely affected the movement of goods and persons across borders. Be it cargo transportation by sea, air or land or for persons travelling for business or leisure, all have to go through numerous procedures to get to destinations.

Prof. Rohan Gunaratna who is considered an international expert in this field is visiting Colombo next week from Singapore to deliver a lecture on the above topic. It is a great opportunity to the business community and the civil society of Sri Lanka to listen to the expert views of Professor. After all, it would be the responsibility of civil society and the business community to understand the threat and to respond and help the country and the world at large to eliminate terrorism. This will ensure a better future to all.

On Monday 23 May international terrorism expert Prof. Rohan Gunaratna will speak on “Global terrorism- the threat & response” Post Bin Laden, Post Prabahkaran & Developments in the Middle East at 3.00 p.m. at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce -Ground floor auditorium, Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 2.

Since 2001 attack on the World Trade Centre in the U.S., the global supply chain has been severely strained as most western countries have adopted major screening mechanisms against terrorism, which of course had to be re done and as a result has slowed the supply chain and increased the cost of transportation while adding new procedures with documentation etc. The USA alone has introduced systems such as mega port monitoring, CTPAT monitoring and introduced advanced manifest systems which has been recently introduced in the European Union as well. These mechanisms in one way has brought increased security but have slowed the logistics operations for global trade and tourism costing the consumer.

The day to day traveller has been forced to go through strict security scanning from the ordinary water bottle, the make-up kit, the belt to the shoe has become a routine check for the traveller, and in the most recent times high tech x-ray machines have in fact invaded the privacy of traveller in U.S.

These significant changes have affected the way we do business and our day to day life. The subject of terrorism today is important to every individual and organisation, as it threatens all civil society across the globe to carry on their lives and business in a free environment. It is the responsibility of the corporate as well as the civil society to understand the big issues, as terrorism directly influences  today’s business environment, be it shipping, transportation, insurance, banking, supply chain management or tourism. The threat posted by extreme elements will not be certainly over with the recent events, as envisaged by the U.S authorities.

Interested parties who would like to attend the lecture can contact the Shippers’ Academy through:

[email protected].