In this episode of the Expert Seat Podcast, host Kristen sits down with Kagusthan Ariaratnam, a defense analyst and consultant with over 25 years of experience.

Kagusthan’s story is unlike any other: once a child soldier with the Tamil Tigers during the Sri Lankan civil war, he later served as a military intelligence analyst with Sri Lanka’s Directorate of Military Intelligence, working directly in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations. For his contributions to the Global War on Terrorism, he was awarded the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies Award in 2003.

Today, Kagusthan is a passionate advocate for Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and co-founder of Project O Five, a non-profit initiative based in Ottawa that redefines OSINT gathering through strategic analysis, counter-radicalization, and global security research.

 In this episode, we explore:

• Kagusthan’s journey from insurgent fighter to intelligence analyst
• Lessons from both sides of modern conflict
• The evolving role of counterintelligence and counterterrorism
• Why OSINT matters more than ever in global security
• How Project O Five is shaping the future of open-source intelligence

 Learn more about Kagusthan’s work → https://projectofive.ca

 Recorded at OnPod Studios – Canada’s fully automated, self-serve podcast studios.
 Book your own session → https://onpod.io

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