Diplomatic ties with new countries did not stem from resolution - GL

Nadira Gunatilleke

There is no connection whatsoever between establishing and strengthening links and bilateral relationships with new countries and the US resolution passed in Geneva against Sri Lanka. A long time ago before this resolution came up, President Mahinda Rajapaksa took the decision to establish Sri Lankan diplomatic missions in some countries, External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said.

Addressing a special press briefing at the External Affairs Ministry auditorium yesterday, Prof. Peiris said that the decision taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa (long before this Geneva issue) was very timely and correct because Sri Lanka has been thinking about its foreign policy in a very traditional way since independence.Sri Lanka did not think about its priorities since its independence. Most of our missions are based in Western Europe.

According to Prof. Peiris there are too many Sri Lankan foreign missions in Western Europe,but, we have only four missions in the Eastern African region. They are in South Africa, Kenya, Egypt and in Libya. “We do not have even a single Sri Lankan foreign mission in Western Africa. This situation has to change and we will change this situation. We have only limited financial assets. We have to identify our priorities and give prominence to them.

We have to make maximum use of our limited resources and restructure accordingly. This is a decision that has to be taken according to current requirements”, he said.

Prof. Peiris said “President Rajapaksa has encouraged us to take decisions and make changes. The Western world has already been given prominence. The whole of Asia, except India, supported us on the Geneva resolution.

Malaysia abstained from voting due to certain internal matters. Asia voiced its unity. We have to consider it.

But nothing was changed because of the Geneva resolution.