We the congress Co- Chairs feel it is necessary and timely to reassure participants of the 8th ICAAP on the security situation in Sri Lanka at present since there have been concerns expressed regarding the incidents experienced around Colombo recently

In order to talk about the present situation it is necessary to provide a little background. As you may know, Sri Lanka has had to face an intermittent armed insurgency in the North and East of the country for over 24 years, broken by 4 periods of ceasefire in its history. The conflict is not new to our island, and is something that our people have learned to accept and live with. Life does really go on as normal.

The conflict has never targeted foreigners, and currently does not target civilians. The main conflict zones are around 200 miles away from cities such as Colombo, the commercial capital.

In response to the security concerns of congress participants, we will be implementing several specific security measures, providing secured buses from the airport to the hotels for all participants on arrival, as well as secured transport from hotels to the congress on a daily basis. The venue of the congress is also a high security zone, where vehicles are checked and all participants attending will be registered.

Again we wish to underline the fact that the insurgency is in the North and East of the country, away from the capital city and that no foreigners have ever been targeted. We are now in the midst of an active peace process guaranteed by the international community – including the United States, the European Union and Japan and an effective cease-fire of all hostilities anywhere in the country is soon possible.

Sri Lanka is an exquisitely beautiful country and will certainly be eye opening for visitors who have not traveled to this part of the world before.

And finally, there are cross cutting themes and tracks at this years congress based on conflict and HIV/AIDS, what better country to host these abstracts than a country such as Sri Lanka?

I hope we have been able to reassure you on your safety in attending the 8th ICAAP in August for which preparations are fully underway, and we look forward to your participation in making this year's congress the best yet.