A selection of the opening speeches given during the global conference on “Reducing Suffering During Armed Conflict: The Interface Between Buddhism and International Humanitarian Law (IHL)”, Dambulla, Sri Lanka, 2019:

Chandima Wickramasinghe, Acting Additional Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka

Loukas Petridis, Head of the ICRC Delegation in Sri Lanka

Andrew Bartles-Smith, Regional Manager for Global Affairs in Asia Pacific, ICRC

Dr. Sunil Kariyakarawana, Buddhist Chaplain of the British Armed Forces, presenting the remarks prepared by Prof. Asanga Tilakaratne, Professor of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Colombo

Prof. Kate Crosby, Professor of Buddhist Studies, King’s College London

Ven. Prof. Mahinda Deegalle, Professor of Religions, Philosophies and Ethics, Bath Spa University

Ven. Kalupahana Piyarathana Thero, Chairman Human Development Edification Centre, Matara

Ven. Moragaswewe Vijitha Thero, Lecturer, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka

Prasantha Lal de Alvis, President’s Counsel, Sri Lanka