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Foreign policy making, no longer for an elite group

The making of foreign policy can no longer be considered the sole function of an elite group, Foreign Affairs Minister Tyronne Fernando said on Froday.

"It must be responsive to public concerns, lasting and able to withstand the glare of public scrutiny and to work with the media and civil society," the Minister told the inauguration ceremony of the Sri Lanka Institute of International Relations.

"Therefore, I trust that this new Institute will no doubt strengthen the relevance of international relations in our society and the world at large," he added.

The Minister further said:

A significant feature of the Sri Lanka Institute of International Relations is the provision of an electronic monitoring center to follow global events and to make up-to date information available to government agencies which need to keep abreast of current political and economic developments as they unfold. This monitoring center will also provide useful early training for young officers of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service to sharpen their skills in reporting and analysing current events, making use of the full range of modern electronic tools.

Unlike in the past when governments were dependent on the reports of their Ambassadors sent through long and difficult routes, today information is instant, from multiple sources and all-pervasive. A good diplomat cannot just report current events, today he must be ahead of events, able to forecast with speed and accuracy. In this globalised world, the timely gathering of information and intelligence is essential, especially to a small country which must position itself accurately, amidst competing interests, for political and economic advantage.

Henry Kissinger in his book " Diplomacy " puts it aptly " International relations have become truly global for the first time. Communications are instantaneous, the world economy operate in all continents simultaneously."

I must also say a few words about these premises, better known as the "Light House". During the colonial period the building was once the residence of the Superintendent whose duty was to maintain the light houses around the Sri Lankan coast for the safety of the thousands of ships plying everyday through the sea lanes, east and west of the Indian Ocean. It is therefore, appropriate that this historic building should serve today as a modern beacon, to promote knowledge and the awareness of international issues and trends, thereby helping us to steer the ship of state safely through the perils of unknown tides.

This beautiful building has at a cost of Rs. 25m been refurbished and renovated with a new auditorium, conference and committee room, a library and an electronic monitoring center, thanks to the foresight of my predecessor, former Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Finally, I must say a few words to the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, particularly the young officers. You are the practitioners, an essential pillar of any country's diplomatic representation. It is your performance which will naturally reflect and enhance our country's image abroad. I hope, that young officers will make full use of the resources of this Institute, to broaden their knowledge and to learn to interact positively with members of the public, academia, media and so on, which form an integral part of the international relations constituency today.

The making of foreign policy can no longer be considered the sole function of an elite group. It must be responsive to public concerns, lasting, and able to withstand the glare of public scrutiny and to work with the media and civil society. I trust that this new institute will no doubt strengthen the relevance of international relations in our society and the world at large", the Minister said.

A documentary film was screened which reflects some of the important milestones in our diplomatic history, produced using valuable archival material from a variety of sources. It is a new initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to bring diplomacy closer to the people, while fulfilling the twin objectives of strengthening institutional machinery as well as projecting a vision for the future.

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