Two-Days Field Excursion to Trincomalee: Maritime Security & Community Peacebuilding

The Department of International Relations, Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo, has organized a two-day field excursion for third-year undergraduates in the Honours Degree Programme in International Relations and the Study Stream Degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution during February 28th to March 1st that the field excursion aimed to provide first-hand experience in maritime security and community peacebuilding. The main academic exercise of the excursion was conducted in collaboration with the Naval and Maritime Academy of the Sri Lanka Navy in Trincomalee where the senior staff of Sri Lanka Navy shared invaluable professional insights on the significance of maritime security for Sri Lanka.

Undergraduates have visited the Naval and Maritime Museum and experienced the boat ride to the inner harbour area of Trincomalee Peninsula, which the boat ride was sponsored by the Sri Lanka Navy, enriching the importance of the world famous natural harbour of Trincomalee. During the two days excursion, the students explored Trincomalee city and visited several significant landmarks, including Koneshwaram Kovil, the Second World War Cemetery, Marble Beach, and Kinniya Bridge.

The excursion was coordinated by Dr. Menik Wakkumbura and Prof. Chaminda Padmakumara, with the participation of senior and junior academic staff members from the department. The maritime security academic sessions were conducted by the Commandant of the Naval and Maritime Academy, Rear Admiral Rohan Joseph, along with several other senior officers engaged in a fruitful discussion on geostrategic importance of maritime space in Sri Lanka.