Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday said that foreign policy should reflect national interest and offer perspective on human and global interest of the state.
“Our main national interest at this point in time is to stabilise our economy and work towards economic recovery,” the Prime Minister said. The Premier was speaking at the convocation of Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) yesterday. Former Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis and Chair of the Maldives Policy Think Tank Eva Abdulla was the Guest of Honour. A total 242 students were awarded Certificates, Diplomas, Higher Diplomas, Postgraduate Diplomas at the convocation. Dr. Amarasuriya said that the country’s foreign policy is influenced by its geographical location, population, economic resources, ideology, Government efficiency and quality of diplomacy.
“At present, Sri Lanka’s foreign relations are influenced significantly by our attempt to recover from the economic and debt crisis. But we have important diplomatic recognition by wise and correct action of the past,”she said.
The Prime Minister said that Sri Lanka has earned a good name among countries for maintaining a principled position on many issues.“We have been standing on the right side of the history promoting peace sovereignty of nations and various international issues.We have never supported any international war.We have a good name among countries for our principled positions,” she added. She stressed that these precious diplomatic assets should be employed to meet the new challenges.
BCIS chairperson and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Executive Director Priyanthi Fernando, members of the diplomatic corps were present.