The International Committee of the Red Cross is set hold hold the 21st South Asia Teaching Session on international humanitarian law later this month.

And where better to hold the event, than in Sri Lanka - an island where gross violations of international humanitarian law themselves have occurred.

The session, organised by the ICRC's Sri Lanka delegation and Sri Lanka's Ministry of External Affairs, is due to take place from the 29th of November until the 6th of December in Colombo.

Yves Giovannoni, head of the ICRC delegation in Sri Lanka, said,

"This will be the first time that SATS is taking place in Sri Lanka,"

"The aim is to enhance knowledge of IHL among civil and military officials working in the fields of international law, international relations and defence studies. At the same time, it is an opportunity for people from South Asian and neighbouring countries to discuss contemporary challenges to humanitarian law."

Topics to be discussed include, IHL v. terrorism, direct participation in hostilities and the protection of women in armed conflict, with 'experts' from countries such as Sri Lanka also set to deliver lectures.

Participating on behalf of Sri Lanka will be a 19-member delegation, including representatives from the ministries of external affairs, health and justice,  the armed forces, the legal draftsman’s department, the attorney general's department and Kothalawala Defence University.