National Security will not be compromised when formulating foreign policy - PM

Rohan MATHES

COLOMBO: Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickremanayake asserts that the national security of the country could not be compromised in any way when formulating our foreign policy strategies.

“In recent times unfortunately, our national interest has been threatened by the scourge of terrorism, terrorism combined with separatism. This has compelled an adjustment of our foreign policy strategies, and our priorities must necessarily be the safeguarding of our sovereignty and our territorial integrity.

In no way can we compromise our national security”, the Prime Minister said when he launched the book “Sri Lanka-Soviet Relations - a study in Retrospect”, authored by Higher Education Minister Prof. Wiswa Warnapala at the Russian Cultural Centre in Colombo last Friday. The book is published by Godage publishers.

Referring to the launch of Minister Warnapala’s book, the Premier noted that it marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Russia and he was confident that an in-depth analysis of all the significant events had been made on the bi-lateral relationships between Sri Lanka and the Soviet Union.

“The book is a study on an aspect of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy and the relationship with Socialist countries, especially Russia”, he said. The Prime Minister added that relations with Russia had been consistently cordial and Russia had stood by Sri Lanka, as Sri Lanka had stood by Russia in their own way.

“Undoubtedly, the relationship would continue with the bonds of friendship and solidarity.”

Minister Wisva Warnapala said that his book refers to the robust and dynamic foreign policy Sri Lanka has had in that era, where the concept of ‘Non Alignment’ was virtually a ‘Radical Non Alignment’.

The friendly and close relationship Sri Lanka has with India, in relation to its culture and geographic location is also articulated.

“Our national interest has to be re-defined in the given context and a foreign policy has to be revised in that perspective”, Minister Warnapala added.

Constitutional Affairs and National Integration Minister Dew Gunasekera also spoke.