BIDTI joins hands with Kadirgamar Institute

The Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) has struck an academic partnership with the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies and the amalgamation has added new impetus to its courses to be started on April 23 and May 17, BIDTI Director General Lorna Devaraja said.

She said the BIDTI was thankful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Secretary Lalith Weeratunga for taking the initiative in effecting this amalgamation and to Foreign Ministry’s legal advisor Dr. Rohan Perera and other officers for speeding this process.
BIDTI founding father Dr. Vernon L.B. Mendis in a message to mark the beginning of the new courses said the general course combines a survey of the international situation and diplomacy in general and the practice of diplomacy.

“These courses have been conducted by the Institute for the last 10 years and they have been a great success. Their merit is that they have enriched their students who represent the general public of this country with an insight into the prevailing international scene,” he said. “The BIDTI is understandably proud of its record in promoting its knowledge of diplomacy and international relations among the public of this country and we hope to continue this service in the future.”

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake, who is the chairman of the BIDTI, said in a message said: “I have been a keen follower of its useful activities in widening the awareness of diplomacy and international relations among professionals such as teachers, lawyers, doctors, and other relevant categories like army and police personnel.

“I believe that it will be beneficial not only for themselves but also for society in general for citizens young or old who wish to broaden their boundaries of knowledge to follow the BIDTI course in Diplomacy and International Relations.”

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama noted that the Institute was designed in the first instance to provide a training programme for recruits of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service which would be in accordance with similar programmes conducted in other countries. He said he would recommend BIDTI courses to all those who were interested in furthering their knowledge of diplomacy and international affairs.

Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohana in his message said: “In an increasingly globalised and highly integrated world, people and their interactions have become more inter-dependent than ever. Many activities in the contemporary world involve international dimensions. Diplomatic skills are not any longer confined to the traditional world of diplomacy. Diplomacy has become a useful tool for many professionals and entrepreneurs.”