The Colombo Air Symposium-2023 (CAS), a prestigious international academic forum organized by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), is set to make a return after a three-year hiatus. Scheduled for October 9th and 10th, 2023, at the Eagle’s Lakeside Banquet and Convention Hall, CAS invites intellectuals, diplomats, military leaders, policymakers, and technological experts to explore defense and security challenges, particularly within the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Under the guidance of Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, the Commander of the Air Force, CAS 2023 adopts the theme “Fostering shared air interests in the IOR: Geopolitical Cooperation, Complexities, and Compulsions.” This theme underscores the importance of international cooperation and understanding in the IOR, especially in the realm of shared air interests. Discussions will prioritize transparency and trust-building to prevent conflicts in this crucial region.
CAS 2023 will also delve into the role of airpower in developing nations amidst a challenging geopolitical landscape, emphasizing its impact on regional and global dynamics. The symposium will highlight the use of airpower for humanitarian efforts, disaster response, and conflict prevention, even in politically and economically challenging environments.
One of the symposium’s main objectives is to identify strategies and cooperative measures to strengthen airpower capabilities in the face of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA) in the IOR.
Hon. Sagala Rathnayake, Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor to the President, will serve as the Chief Guest, while Professor Adam Leong Kok Wey, Director of the Centre for Defence and International Security Studies (CDISS) at the National Defence University of Malaysia, will deliver the keynote address.
CAS 2023 will draw participation from Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and foreign delegates from over 40 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, India, China, and more. Foreign research authors and high-ranking officers from defense forces will also present papers at the event.
The symposium, themed “Fostering shared air interests in the IOR: Geopolitical Cooperation, Complexities, and Compulsions,” will explore various aspects of airpower and collaboration in the Indian Ocean Region, facilitating discussions on critical issues in the region’s airspace.
