Archives

Face to Face

We turned UNP policy upside down - Harendra Corea

During the UNP's tenure of office Sri Lanka earned negative marks from the world due to many factors. The inablity to counter the LTTE propaganda mechanism and the poor human rights track record were main causes for this situation.

However, after 1994 this situation turned upside down due to the striving efforts of the PA Government.

We showed the world that we were for a political settlement to the North and East problem.

The biggest achievement of the Government was to get proscribed the LTTE in the US, UK, and several other Western Nations blocking their fund raising, even before the attacks on America.

We also have assistance and looked after the welfare of the expatriate workers in the Middle East. Their welfare, recreation facilities, job safety and many other problems were addressed.

We were able to bring back hundreds of fishermen who were stranded in India due to our close relations with our big neighbour.

PA foreign policy was not consistent - Mahinda Samarasinghe

The PA Government did not have a consistent foreign policy during the last seven years. They only had adhoc policies.

As a result country experienced many disadvantages on many issues.

Our future UNP Government, after December 5, will introduce a consistent and sound foreign policy geared at tapping the neglected world of Asia.

We have to strengthen friendly relations with our neighbours, particularly India. We were not interested in strengthening the relations with our big neighbours both India and Pakistan.

At the same time, we will build close economic ties with the West. Because we need to attract Foreign Direct Investments and improve tourism. It is important to play a high profile in the UN system and committees. Sri Lanka's role in the UN system and Committees was not a happy one. We need to further strengthen our relations.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager