Ranil on Middle East conflict Sri Lankan government should come up with its stand on the conflict

By Yohan Perera 

Sri Lankan government should come up with its stand on the Middle East conflict while it should understand the gravity of it,” former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said. 

“The government had urged all parties involved in the conflict to stop hostilities. Anyone would call for the stoppage of aggression at this moment. However, the government must come out with its stand on the conflict,” Mr Wickremesinghe said, speaking to some social media activists at his office over the weekend. 

He said President Donald Trump’s action cannot be approved, as no country can change the administration of another by bombing. “Some countries, including Norway and Switzerland, have said the action by President Donald Trump and Israel is a violation of international laws and norms. Trump claims that Iran has killed U.S. people in the recent past. This could be possible. However, one cannot approve the use of force as it could be a bad precedent,” he added. 

Also, he said a severe fuel shortage is not a likely scenario as Iran is not the only nation that supplies fuel. “There are other countries which supply fuel,” he said. 

“However, sea battles, especially in the Strait of Hormuz, would block the supply of essentials such as fuel. Such conflicts have not arisen yet,” he said.