Local and foreign elements that are arraigned against Sri Lanka have not changed their stance but their methodologies have been refined. In order to defeat their strategies, the Ministry of External Affairs has been assigned the task of proactively engaging with the international community. In order to achieve success everybody should act with a collective sense of responsibility, said External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris at a ceremony attended by the staff of the Ministry of External Affairs to launch the New Year Programme.
Local and foreign elements that are arraigned against Sri Lanka have not changed their stance but their methodologies have been refined. In order to defeat their strategies, the Ministry of External Affairs has been assigned the task of proactively engaging with the international community. In order to achieve success everybody should act with a collective sense of responsibility, said External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris at a ceremony attended by the staff of the Ministry of External Affairs to launch the New Year Programme.
Speaking further, Prof. Peiris said an unprecedented number of world leaders, including Heads of State visited Sri Lanka in the past year thus indicating the attention and respect the international community has for the country and its post-conflict programme of development and reconciliation.
“Though the Armed Forces managed to defeat a brand of terrorism that was considered as invincible and no more bombings and suicide attacks take place, still efforts are being made by various international elements to destabilize the investment and tourism sectors with a view to bringing the country’s economy to a standstill. These elements appear in various guises but their main focus has been to destroy the economy, thereby attempting to achieve what they couldn’t by supporting terrorism. And this was what Sri Lanka should bare before the international community. Prof. Peiris said that he very candidly explained this situation at the recently-held Galle Dialogue that was attended by over 200 senior naval and other maritime officials from 29 countries. Furthermore, he continues to brief the diplomatic corps in Colombo from time to time with a view to apprising them of the prevailing situation which was well received by the diplomats.
Prof. Peiris also referred to the success achieved by Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia where it was able to nullify efforts made by a few countries to discredit Sri Lanka. He also mentioned that at a news conference in Perth, how he offered to answer any issue concerning Sri Lanka and how he had a very fruitful exchange with the assembled media personnel.
Prof. Peiris said that we must extend the diplomatic relations network to countries with whom we still do not have relations and strengthen our international relations specially in the spheres of investment, trade and tourism. In this effort the Ministry of External Affairs should act as the catalyst and offer all the necessary help to those Sri Lankan embassies. He also said that efforts were already underway to host a very successful Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka this year. The meeting was attended by all senior officials and staff of the Ministry led by Ministry Secretary Karunatilleka Amunugama, Secretary.
Source: Daily News (03rd January 2012)
