Cultivate friendship, not animosity, with Gulf states

When the Suez Crisis occurred, Bandaranaike stood by Egypt and supported its right to nationalise the Suez Canal Company, going against Israel and the UK in the UN. In his address to the United Nations Assembly, Bandaranaike defended Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser by saying Suez Canal rightfully belonged to Egypt. His effort to resolve the Suez Crisis, pleased the Arab Countries. Thus, Sri Lanka was appointed as a member of the Suez Advisory Board.

Sri Lankan ties with Arab nations grew even stronger under the administration of his wife Sirimavo Bandaranaike, when Sri Lanka closed down the Israel embassy in support of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Sri Lanka was among the first countries to recognize the state of Palestine. when it was declared as a state in 1988. When Sirimavo nationalised the petroleum companies and the West blocked the supply of oil to Sri Lanka, instantly Gamal Abdel Nasser responded by sending a ship load of oil. That was the time both husband and wife established such a strong relation with all Arab countries.

When I arrived in the Gulf in 1975, I saw that the Arabs knew the name Bandaranaike better than the name of our country, Sri Lanka. During my visit to Egypt a few years ago, I hired a cab to return to the hotel I was staying after visiting a few historic places in Cairo. On arriving at the hotel, I asked him what is his usual charge was, and he responded by saying ‘You can give me whatever you want and even if you don’t pay it is OK.’ Anyway, I paid him ten Egyptian pounds. With utmost satisfaction he saluted and left. On arriving at the hotel, I checked with the concierge about the fare from the place I hired this cab. He said it was nothing less than 25 to 30 Egyptian pounds. When I told the amount paid to the driver, he asked me did he go without demanding more. I said he was very happy and even saluted me. Then, he asked me what were you all discussing on the way to the hotel. I said it was all about Bandaranaike and the relations they maintained with the late Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser. Concierge’s response was ‘No wonder!’

The irresponsible loose talks of our politicians have destroyed all these beautiful relations we had with all the Arab countries. I have repeatedly stressed in my letters to the press the importance of our leaders’ visit to Arab countries, especially Gulf countries where a large number of our Sri Lankans are working and remitting home not less than US dollar 7 billion annually. In 47 years in the Gulf I am yet to see a Lankan leader visiting these countries. We see a leader from the western countries visiting the Gulf capitals practically every day. U.S president Joe Biden is due in Riyadh soon after Hajj. Any visitor to this part of the world is amply rewarded.

S.H. MOULANA