Right foreign policy is key to Sri Lanka’s success – Ranil

Sri Lanka needed a good foreign service to forge broader relations with many countries while safeguarding the sovereignty of Sri Lanka, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said addressing a number of newly appointed ambassadors and high commissioners who paid a courtesy call on the President prior to leaving for their missions.

The President said that the Foreign Ministry was currently formulating a draft of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Policy and Foreign Service for 2030 which is expected to get the approval from the Cabinet and the Parliament.

“We have economic, security and climate change objectives. Accomplishing these lay in your hand,” he said.

The newly-appointed ambassadors and high commissioners must build contacts within the respective country and to safeguard the rights of Sri Lankans overseas.

“We must also help the diaspora but do not get involved in the politics of the Sri Lankan diaspora. Sri Lanka will have a Sri Lankan Diaspora Office to deal with the political issues faced by the diaspora and they can be addressed by the new office,” he said.

President Wickremesinghe said the Department of Commerce will be replaced by an International Trade office and the diplomats can work closely with this unit. The President also emphasised the need to strengthen the relationship between the respective countries and expand trade, investment, tourism, economic, political, security, agriculture, employment opportunities, labour, skilled migration, education and marine issues.

Chithranganee Wagiswara appointed (High Commissioner to Australia), Manisha Gunasekara (Ambassador to France) H.M.G.R.R.K Wijerathne Mendis (Ambassador of Bahrain), Dr. A.S.U. Mendis (Ambassador to Vietnam), Kapila Jayaweera (Ambassador to Lebanon), Varuni Muthukumarana (Ambassador to Germany), M.H.M.N. Bandara (Ambassador to Israel), K.K.T. Kumarasiri (Ambassador to Ethiopia), Priyangika Wijegunasekara (Ambassador to Jordan), Dr. C.H. Thalpahewa (Ambassador to the Philippines), Udaya Indrarathna (Ambassador to United Arab Emirate)s and other Foreign Ministry officials were present at the discussion with the President.