Addressing the 17th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Hanoi, Viet Nam, Hon. Gitanjana Gunawardena, Deputy Minister of External Affairs stated that “Terrorism by nature thrives on the vulnerabilities of democratic States and lacuna in international law. Much of the rules of war and norms are based on the presumption that the parties to the conflict are conventional armies of responsible States, but terrorists totally disregard these laws and principles”. In this context he stated that Sri Lanka has successfully defeated one of the most ruthless terrorist organizations known in contemporary history, through a humanitarian operation.

Hon. Gitanjana Gunawardena, Deputy Minister of External Affairs, who was in Hanoi Viet Nam leading the Government of Sri Lanka delegation to the 17th Session of the ASEAN Regional Forum, a gathering of twenty- seven key Asia Pacific Countries to promote dialogue on regional security issues and cooperation among Members, held a bilateral discussion with, H.E Dao Viet Trung, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Viet Nam.