Thursday, 24th July 2014
By Kelum Bandara
In 1505, a few Portuguese vessels under the guidance of Dom Lourenço de Almeida came ashore to Sri Lanka mainly in their search of spices. After more than 500 years, Portugal now looks for better ties with Sri Lanka, but not for the spice trade. It seeks to revive its relations with Sri Lanka, as a former Portuguese colony, in a new world order in which interests of both countries concerned have changed both in quality and quantity.
As a milestone in this revival attempt and renewed international co-operation covering a broad spectrum of bilateral relations, Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho undertook ‘a working visit’ to Sri Lanka last Sunday, the first such visit by a Head of State from that country.
During the short stay, he rushed to Galle to see the Portuguese monuments built during their colonial time in the country, and it preceded the supervision of Portugal funded charity work in Maggona, Kalutara.
External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris received him at the Bandaranaike International Airport. Later, he had talks with the visiting Prime Minister, with particular emphasis on the pressing challenges confronting Sri Lanka in the international arena. Mainly among them was the appointment of the staff team by the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to investigate alleged war time human rights violations and accountability issues. The Prime Minister also met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sri Lankan Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne.
Prof. Peiris explained to the visiting Prime Minister, Sri Lanka’s stand on the initiative by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to conduct an international inquiry into the allegation of war time rights abuses and accountability issues.
The Minister called it ‘intrusive.’ Apart from these types of matters, the duo discussed measures for cultural co-operation with greater emphasis on the conservation of Portuguese monuments, and fostering of their culture preserved by their descendants living in Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister noted the importance of learning Portuguese, as a language widely used in diplomatic affairs. Portuguese is spoken extensively in Latin America. In fact, it is the main language of Brazil which is the largest emerging economy of Latin America.
In revitalising the cultural links with Sri Lanka, the Portuguese Prime Minister pledged to help in the study of both Portuguese history and language as academic disciplines by Sri Lankans.
Prof. Peiris explained to the visiting Prime Minister, Sri Lanka’s stand on the initiative by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to conduct an international inquiry into the allegation of war time rights abuses and accountability issues
