China important partner in Sri Lanka’s economic development – FM
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Friday said India realised the dangers of bottom-trawling, but the two countries should work out a win-win situation for poor fishermen on both sides of the Palk Bay.
The Joint Working Group that the neighbours have set up, following the high-level talks in New Delhi last week, will meet in Colombo early January to take discussions forward. “I am sure that we should be able to come to a suitable agreement in the shortest possible time,” said the Minister, who in September called for a ban on bottom-trawling, citing its adverse impact on marine ecosystems.
Terming the New Delhi meeting “a great success,” he told The Hindu in an interview that both sides demonstrated political will to find a solution and that a “very important first step” has been taken.
On the outcome of the U.S. elections, he said there were certain concerns about some of the policies Donald Trump expounded during the campaign. But “what you say at election time is not always what you do when you are elected”. The American system, he said, would steer the new administration along the same path as far as international relations are concerned.
Asked about the recent controversial remarks of the Chinese envoy in Colombo — criticising at a press conference Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s view on “expensive” Chinese loans — Mr. Samaraweera said he advised the envoy that any such issue should be sorted through the Foreign Ministry rather than through the media. China is a “good friend” and an important partner in Sri Lanka’s economic development, he said.
Mr. Samaraweera, a top leader in Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party, which leads Sri Lanka’s unity government along with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, has been at the helm of initiatives aimed at reconciliation.
Asked about concerns voiced by the civil society on the draft of Sri Lanka’s new counter-terrorism law, he said his own Ministry had conveyed to an oversight committee its reservation over some of the recommendations in the draft. The final version, he said, would be in line with global norms. “But still the commitment of the government to repeal the earlier Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and introduce a new Prevention of Terrorism Act in keeping with international best practice is as strong as ever.”
On whether the reported actions of the country’s Terrorism Investigation Divisions and ongoing arrests under the PTA meant that the country’s security apparatus — that drew strong criticism during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s time — remained as was earlier, Mr. Samaraweera said after 10 years of a “very authoritarian government” it was not easy to change the mindset created by that era. Even if governments change, the officials and bureaucracy remain. “It’s not possible to change them all overnight. It is a gradual process. But that process is taking place.”
(Source: The Hindu)
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Geopolitical policies were never based on goodwill nor friendship in the past, nor in the future.
Politically present government has not the credibility to forge any viable alliance. The yahapalanaya coalition effort to project an image of solidarity is flawed and the recent events has clearly demonstrated this and it is beyond redemption and this obvious to the resident ambassadors based in Colombo.
Parliamentary democracy has become mockery consider the FM shuffling between English and Sinhalese and it is pathetic for he is neither fluent in Sinhalese or English and any effort to masquerade he deceived in his own deception.
what happens in the Us is nowhere comparable Trump has to contend with the Arabs the Chinese and the Russians and how his ploies will be dictated by the existing policies and i doubt Trump like his predecessors will prompt another war that would lead to a global conflict however his policies on taxation and immigration policies will be on track for that was what he was voted in for. Only time will tell as to ow these p0olicies will play out with time. As is 70 percent or thereabouts the American population is white and according to some deographers by about 2050 the minorities will be on par with he caucasian population unless some catastrophe takes place.
The self determination is not synonymous with self determination and according to the UN charter on human rights the people have right to fight for self determination. Even though the Un itself has violated this charter again aganin it is still there and it has yet to declare it to be contrary. So if the government decides to contain freedom of expression constitutional by declaring that protest against the government as an act of terror then we will have no opposition!
YAHAPALANAYA can’t count on USA Foreign Policy anymore (will not be USA driven). Understandably, there will be a USA Foreign Policy revamp when Trump takes office in 20 January 2017. That is why all of a sudden China became a GOOOOD Friend to Sri Lanka!!!!!
This FM is a dreamer. He is yet to understand the impact of the outcome of the US elections.
The US administration will be the World’s biggest joke in the coming year till the Republican Party impeaches the dumb-head P-Elect.
All along, the US has been a bottom-of-ladder donor for development activity. Their economy has been and will continue to be a disaster. The only thing is that the Americans have big mouths and always talk big as World Leaders. Those who can overcome this big American bull**** are the winners.
We must get out of this mentality of foreign loans and foreign aid for enhacing local quality of life.
We should focus on fundamentals like agricuture, tea, rubber, coconot to boost the local quality of life. We should focus on creating an efficient IT hub to communicate with the world.
Borrowing money (at exhorbitant interest rates from China) and building harbours and airports which nobody wants (Where is the Chinese Silk Route? Where are the Chinese Ships?) is of no value.
Common don’t worry about these. Lets play cricket. That is the answer for all these problems.