People-centred foreign policy

Foreign Affairs Ministry will initiate a people-centred foreign policy aimed at providing social and economic benefits to the people, Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said.

The Minister made these remarks at a press conference held under the theme ‘foreign policy vision and the results achieved’ at the Lakshman Kadirgamar centre on International Affairs in Colombo yesterday.

“We have overcome the terrorist problem now and we will be able to launch a massive development drive with international support. During the past four years, our foreign missions played a major role to defeat the LTTE activities in the international arena. These missions also contributed immensely to preserve the image of Sri Lanka. Nearly 33 foreign countries banned this terrorist movement in their soil.

We were also able to stop the continuation of their activities with international support.Now is our time for initiating economic development in the country by attracting foreign investment and technical assistance. We can launch this program of action under Mahinda Chinthanaya and through bilateral relationship based on our non-aligned foreign policy.”

These development programs include improvement on Colombo-Matara railway track, harbours at Galle, Hambantota and Oluvil, expansion of Colombo harbour, Puttalam Coal power project, Uma oya hydro power project etc, the Minister said.