Video: SL to dilute dependence on China-Mangala

19 June 2015 06:20 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 14 Bookmark

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Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Thursday said that the country will review its China-dependent foreign policy and boost ties with other nations.

In an interview with NHK World News during his visit to Japan, Samaraweera said that Sri Lanka plans to advance a balanced diplomacy that strengthens relations with all countries, including China.

Foreign Minister Samaraweera referred to Sri Lanka's relations with China. China overtook Japan as Sri Lanka's biggest source of assistance in 2009.

He indicated that Chinese aid led to rampant corruption under the previous government. He said the Sri Lankan government has suspended a project to improve port facilities in the nation's largest city, Colombo, and is now reviewing it. He added the project may not have followed appropriate procedures.

The minister said Japan rose from the ashes of World War Two and became one of the most powerful nations. He said Japan provides a good lesson for Sri Lanka, which went through a civil war.

Calling Japan a consistent friend of Sri Lanka, Samaraweera called on Japan to provide more aid and private investment.

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Comments - 14

Waco Friday, 19 June 2015 12:16 PM

Previous government should be held respnsible for the corruptions and not the China. China has been a very sincere friend of Sri Lanka since the Rice-rubber pack. Even during the war China helped us. You can not see things properly

15 43

Waco Friday, 19 June 2015 12:22 PM

Sri Lanka has to exist on the sympathy of others because of your non-alined Foriegn Policy. We do not have a powerful Nation like Cina to back us up.

16 33

Waco Friday, 19 June 2015 12:27 PM

Any way pack your Bag and Bages and be ready, your days days are numbered.

28 42

lkboy Friday, 19 June 2015 12:37 PM

Good.

16 16

Waco Friday, 19 June 2015 12:44 PM

Mangala you canot compair people in Japan and Sri Lankans. Get Amarica to Bom Sri Lanka to kill almost two hundred thousand people like in Hiroshima and Nagasaki .

15 14

Dalu Banda Friday, 19 June 2015 03:18 PM

No wander in an era that even some could get confused the difference between man and woman, these things can easily get up side down. .

3 2

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 19 June 2015 03:47 PM

China has supported us for the war and the UN for an exorbitant price and not as a friend as you think. China also wants a military foot inside SL for obvious reasons and the only way they can procure that is with a dictatorial regime that is corrupt.

8 20

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 19 June 2015 03:50 PM

Non Aligned policy does not get sympathy for others, but is a alignment of nations that do not want to become puppets of powerful countries, like what SL was with China under Rajapakse.

5 18

Pangala Friday, 19 June 2015 04:02 PM

Most policies of current regime are short sighted and election driven.Also, this foreign minister on a self image building campaign, hence least concerned about the country.

8 12

Cheers Friday, 19 June 2015 04:46 PM

If not for China and mahinda you would have been just another number

10 14

RD Friday, 19 June 2015 07:29 PM

Declare war against China. Then after the win against China, we can rule the whole world.

4 7

dilip Friday, 19 June 2015 08:53 PM

Best comment for the day

4 5

Esala Friday, 19 June 2015 09:18 PM

100% correct. This is his final visit as pina minister.

4 10

Devin Saturday, 20 June 2015 09:15 PM

The last option is the best for the day. How about proposing the Field Marshall to lead the forces :-)

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