Full text of the speech made by Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the inaugural session of the Galle Dialogue Maritime Conferenceas follows.

Your Excellencies, Heads of Missions based in Colombo
Secretary to the President
Secretaries to Other Ministries
Chief of Defence Staff
Service Commanders
Admiral Arun Prakash, former Chief of Staff, Indian Navy
Prof. James Clad
Invited Speakers
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am glad to have this opportunity to address you at the Inaugural Session of the Galle Dialogue Maritime Conference, which is being organized by the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka. This Conference takes place at an opportune time, one year after the defeat of the LTTE, one of the world's worst terrorist groups, by the Sri Lanka Defence Forces.

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