SL must focus foreign policy on West: UNP

2 December 2013 11:38 am - 19 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian and former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said today Sri Lanka’s foreign policy should be focused on the West instead of the African region.

“External Affairs Minister G.L. Peries recently said Sri Lanka didn’t need the assistance of Western countries and soon after the Government began focusing its attention on African countries. The minister also said the Government would establish diplomatic relations with 15 selected African countries,” Mr. Samaraweera told a news conference.

He said the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was unsuccessful because of the low turnout and said it was high time that Sri Lanka revamped, revised and improved its foreign policy for the benefit of the country.

Mr. Samaraweera said only seven countries from the African region sent delegates to the Summit in Colombo though there were 19 African-member countries in the Commonwealth.

“If our foreign policy was healthy and doing well, the turnout at the CHOGM would have no been so low. I think Minister Peries should resign after taking responsibility for our dilapidated foreign policy,” he said.

He said Minister Peries had deceived Parliament and the people by making a statement in the Parliament saying that 31 Heads of Government had arrived in Sri Lanka for the CHOGM.

“Only 21 Heads of Government Heads took part in the Summit,” Mr. Samaraweera said and added that the UNP would give its full commitment to the government to implement the Commonwealth Charter and its values in Sri Lanka. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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Comments - 19

M.O.A.Careem Tuesday, 03 December 2013 12:21 PM

good.....do some thing good - for better prospect......

Srilankan Tuesday, 03 December 2013 07:55 AM

It is high time Mangala keep his mouth shut as every time he opens it UNP lose few more precious votes they are hanging to. What he says has a merit but the messenger has lost the credibility among the voters. Sooner they understand people like Mangala And Aththanayaka needs to keep their mouth shut better for them.

Prometheus Tuesday, 03 December 2013 07:33 AM

Look who's talking! When RW aligned with the US and backed by the EU (2001-2004), you sir and your then patriot friends did everything possible to bring down that UNF govt. And sadly you succeeded. We HAD the support of the west. Even China, Japan, almost everyone backed SL. Only India was unhappy. So what nonsense are you uttering now? This is YOUR legacy. You are at least partly responsible for the current situation.

Calistus Jayatilleke Tuesday, 03 December 2013 07:22 AM

Yes, of course, rather than align with some African banana republics, some of whom we witnessed practising gluttony during the Show-Gum.

prasanna Tuesday, 03 December 2013 06:23 AM

west never helped us, despite JR been called yanki dike US never helped JR, we voted for UK during the Falkland issue in UN but UK never helped JR they refused to sell ammunition for British armed cars of the SL army due to the Indian pressure (india was in the soviet camp during that time) we were helped only by China and Pakistan during that most important time of our history. if you take his advice the country will be like Chandrikas time and present time of UNP.

fred Tuesday, 03 December 2013 05:43 AM

MS makes some very valid points. The Africans may vote for SL and that is important but they don't have real international clout. It is the West that calls the shots. Anyway, there is no need to alienate the West and important to improve SL's relations with the West.

Anil Ekanayake Tuesday, 03 December 2013 05:19 AM

BOYS will be BOYS.

ind Tuesday, 03 December 2013 05:07 AM

It's a no ball and Mangala was at Deep midwicket at that time !!!!

Fayad Monday, 02 December 2013 11:52 AM

You & the UNP needs to focus on local policy first then you can think of foreign policy

sen Tuesday, 03 December 2013 03:40 AM

Mangala does the first appeal for lbw. About time.....
Minister GL Peiris: your job is on the line.

Saskia Monday, 02 December 2013 02:15 PM

Especially Countries where HR are very very low, right? Good move keep it up.

ind Monday, 02 December 2013 01:01 PM

Exactly.

Bebon Monday, 02 December 2013 01:01 PM

From where they again the power.,. from themselves ? hooo

Loca gaynu-hora Monday, 02 December 2013 12:44 PM

so all african region visits by government, there is recently behind for all these action ahh

Suq Madique Monday, 02 December 2013 12:37 PM

Nothing wrong with aligning ourselves with smaller nations rather than sucking up to the bigger nations who have no regard for our soverignity

Neutral thinker Monday, 02 December 2013 12:13 PM

This country will soon be like an African country, that's why they want to keep diplomatic relationship mainly with African countries neglecting the western.

ind Monday, 02 December 2013 11:53 AM

West is now loosing their power. Asian countries are the emerging powers. You and your master still worshiping west.

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SL must focus foreign policy on West: UNP

Comments - 19

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