MR Tells Envoys To Maintain Good Ties

By Dinouk Colombage

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressing Sri Lankan diplomats at a workshop in Diyatalawa yesterday, said that it was important to maintain good relations with Sri Lanka’s neighbors.

The President’s office quoted the President as saying that now was the time for Asia and the world was also watching the Asian region.

He also reminded the diplomats that they are not ones who just wave the Sri Lankan flag but rather are part of that flag.

The President also said that the world has recognized the fact that Sri Lanka has achieved peace after 30 years of war and there is no state of emergency, no high security zones, no landmines and no checkpoints.

He said that the people who suffered for 30 long years due to terrorism are now enjoying the fruits of peace as normalcy has been restored.

All Sri Lankan Ambassadors and High Commissioners posted at missions overseas are attending the two day workshop.

The two day workshop of the Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry which began yesterday for all 59 of its foreign mission heads, focused on the economic policy of the country.

Sarath Dissanayake, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, said that a two day workshop was being conducted to brief all of the foreign mission heads on the country’s foreign policy.

“In today’s world foreign policy across the globe is being conducted on the stage of economic iplomacy.

As such we feel that it is necessary for the country to re-brand its foreign policy to match the rest,” he

said.

Dissanayake added that the workshops were designed at briefing the mission heads on how best to engage the international community on these issues.

“As we look to expand our international ties it is important that our mission heads know what they are doing.”