Ignorance of fmr govt placed SL on collision path: PM

24 October 2015 07:22 am - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said despite the integral role played by Sri Lanka towards the establishment of the UN in 1945, the ignorant attitudes of certain politicians and other officials of the previous government placed Sri Lanka on a collision path with the international community, which in turn stalled the country’s journey forward.

The PM made these remarks a short while ago in his address at the event held this morning at the UN Compound in Colombo, to mark twin anniversaries - the 70th UN day and the 60th year since Sri Lanka became a member state of the UN.

“Sri Lanka was a globally reputed state and made a significant contribution towards the establishment of the UN. Unfortunately, we did not receive due recognition towards those efforts and that itself was a major setback,” he noted.

PM Wickremesinghe pointed out Sri Lanka’s political leadership since obtaining UN membership in 1955 has been working closely with the organisation and thereby won a special place in the international community.

He criticized the decisions made by certain politicians and officials of the previous regime that resulted in Sri Lanka embarking on a collision path with the international community.

“The former regime believed that if they allied themselves with states that did not see eye-to-eye with nations that challenged the state of affairs in Sri Lanka, it would help them overcome the issues that arose on an international level,” he said while adding, “The former regime aspired for Sri Lanka to lead the beggars of the international community and thought that it would help fight off battles with powerful nations, failing to understand that it is not the way in which diplomatic relations play out. . .”

Meanwhile the PM’s sentiments on the way in which Sri Lanka’s relations with the UN and its agencies deteriorated during the past few years were reflected in the speech made by President Maithripala Sirisena as well.

He pointed to the way in which a Minister of the former regime challenged the UN by staging a sathyagraha before the UN compound in Colombo and the manner in which such actions were encouraged by the former political leadership when he fed refreshments to the protesting Minister who was on a hunger strike.

“It was such actions that deteriorated the cordial relations between the UN and Sri Lanka. The new government for the past ten months has been making efforts to control that damage and rekindle and restore the relations to its former state,” he said while adding the GoSL’s actions since the beginning of this year, has been aimed towards making it clear that Sri Lanka is a nation that takes its duties and obligations to the international community seriously.

He also commended the media and communications outreach campaign that has been launched titled ‘Our UN. අපේ UN. எங்கள் UN’ to mark the celebration of the twin anniversaries and noted that it would create the necessary mindset within the masses to become ‘one Sri Lanka’.

UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Subinay Nandy in his address appreciated Sri Lanka’s renewed engagement with the UN and all its partners. He added the trust and cooperation borne out of the new relations was culminated in the recently passed UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka.

The event this morning was attended by top level UN as well as GoSL officials and Sri Lankans who held high ranking positions in the UN. The distinguished attendees including UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, Miroslav Jenča who is currently in the island on a four-day official visit. He delivered the statement by UNSG Ban Ki-Moon. Among other guests were Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Minister Rauff Hakeem and Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala. (Lakna Paranamanna)

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Comments - 20

Bala Saturday, 24 October 2015 03:11 PM

Negative and narrow minded comment - not be a slave but equal partners that respect human rights - China and Russia are way behind in HR.

NAN Monday, 26 October 2015 11:18 AM

ALMOST CLOSING TO A YEAR -STILL CRITIZISING .WHEN WILL RW SIT AND WORK .MAY BE AFTER 2020 .

S B Lokuge Sunday, 25 October 2015 03:04 PM

Any excuse for this traitor to kiss suddas back. Remember how you sold the north and the east to killer Prabha?

asoka Sunday, 25 October 2015 09:52 AM

we are still waiting for the Volkswagen factory and the 1 million jobs.......

Bala Sunday, 25 October 2015 09:51 AM

Arrogance born of ignorance of UN statutes and how much it is bindng on sovereign states like SL. Read today Sunday Time Kaushal PJ page 22 FOCUS.

Sapu Sunday, 25 October 2015 08:36 AM

Ranil never acknowledged any of those things you mentioned. desperate lies

Cheers Sunday, 25 October 2015 06:02 AM

If not for MR and Gota you would be milking the cows of Velu in the north by now and accept the good work from the previous regime and MR protected you.

TONY Sunday, 25 October 2015 12:03 AM

WHY ARE PEOPLE SO ANGRY WITH WW. HE WILL DIG ANYTHING FOR PUBLICITY

usuf Saturday, 24 October 2015 08:41 PM

More than ignorance their arrogance was d cause for their failure. via DM Android App

Badur Saturday, 24 October 2015 03:25 PM

They should have invited Wimal Weerawansa as he would love to attend any event held at the UN premises via DM Android App

DEEPA Saturday, 24 October 2015 01:22 PM

IGNORANCE, AND NOT TO MENTION ARROGANCE!

Sapu Saturday, 24 October 2015 03:08 PM

A slave of MR like you cannot see that SL is neutral now

suda Saturday, 24 October 2015 03:02 PM

If you were the leader of the country for the past 10 years, there is no Sri Lanka for you to talk today. We remember how you acknowledged Tiger Courts, Tiger Police Stations, Tiger Banks etc. when you were the PM back in early of decade 2000.

Labby Saturday, 24 October 2015 02:59 PM

When will you get out of that well you are holed up in?

paddy Saturday, 24 October 2015 02:23 PM

Very correct ..and getting blasted by the LTTE thats what they wanted.

gayan Saturday, 24 October 2015 02:06 PM

Being a slave of western nations is not global recognition.

sene Saturday, 24 October 2015 01:49 PM

The UNHRC issue dragged on because MR politicized it for his narrow political gains in SL

sene Saturday, 24 October 2015 01:49 PM

totally agreed

ANTON Saturday, 24 October 2015 01:30 PM

OK OK LOKKA, NOW PUT FULL STOP MARK FOR THE CRITICISM AND TRY TO KICK OFF GOOD WORK.

Yapa Saturday, 24 October 2015 01:29 PM

Lot of things were encouraged by the last regime for nearly 10 years, among them, indiscipline, disrespect to law and the legal system, not controlling politicians, allowing them to engage in illegal, fearless and shameless acts contributed to the present situation.What is sad is that it has not improved. No point in talking, show by collective action. A strong leadership is the need of the hour.

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Ignorance of fmr govt placed SL on collision path: PM

Comments - 20

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