Despite the Opposition’s allegations that the Government’s foreign relations have been degraded during the recent past, we have maintained our foreign policy with a more beneficial and productive manner, Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris said.
The Minister was addressing Galle District political representatives and provincial public officials at a meeting, which was held to obtain their views and ideas, to formulate a suitable regional development strategy for sustainable development on par with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The meeting was held at the auditorium of Dhakshina Paya in Labuduwa, Galle.
“This month, the highest number of Heads of State arrived in our country since independence. During the past few days, we hosted the Foreign Minister of China and the Speaker of National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. Thereafter, the Foreign and Trade Minister of Hungary participated in the inauguration of work on two flyovers in Kohuwala and Getambe. They came with massive financial support. They pledged us soft loans in dollars as well,” the Minister said.
Minister Prof. Peris said that he met the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of South Korea. “They assured that more avenues will be opened for Sri Lankan workers there,” the Minister said.
The Minister also said that he visited South Korea and showed them that a large number of Sri Lankans have been employed in various sectors in Korea contributing immensely to its economy. More Sri Lankans aspire to get jobs there as well, so I requested them to provide Sri Lankans with more jobs to which they responded very positively. They promised me that they would increase the quota of jobs for Sri Lankans,” Minister Prof. Peiris said.
The Minister said that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa allocated a colossal amount of money to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. “We have done away with the old methodology of planning development strategies from Colombo or from the centre. Development activities should be planned and implemented at regional level. Therefore, we will get ideas from regional leaders and let the development strategies be planned and implemented accordingly. We are visiting all parts of the country and collecting information and data for our development plans to be implemented at district level under the leadership of regional stakeholders,” the Minister said.
Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Office for the National Unity and Reconciliation Director General Deepthi Lamahewa, Southern Province Chief Ministry Secretary Krishantha Mahendra and several others spoke.
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