MANGALA: IC NOW LOOKS AT SL

Mangala: IC now looks at SL

Sri Lanka has ended a period of selfimposed isolation and was taken note of by the international community, not in terms of its strategic location, but in terms of the changes made by the people, Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday said. “The country has been noted by the international community, not merely in terms of its location at the centre of the Indian Ocean, but in terms of the changes that have been ushered in by the people,” he told a news conference held at the Foreign Ministry premises following a discussion he had with Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström. Minister Samaraweera said Sri Lanka had a long way to go and the people required the assistance of the international community to ensure the success of the journey. Meanwhile, commenting on his Swedish counterpart’s visit to the country, the Minister said the visit was an encouragement to Sri Lanka as the country attempted to create a peaceful, reconciled and prosperous nation, while promoting and protecting human rights of all citizens and safeguarding the diversity of the society.

“We also recognise Minister Wallström’s consistent leadership in her efforts for improving women’s rights. We have introduced a 25 percent quota for women at local government elections and the new Constitution will ensure that gender parity and the women’s rights are upheld. We look forward to working with Sweden on this issue among other important universal concerns,” he said.

He said the delegations of the two countries discussed ways of making bilateral partnership stronger, including enhancing development assistance, bilateral trade, tourism and investment.

“Specifically, I extended Sri Lanka’s appreciation for Sweden’s continued development assistance over the last fifty years and discussed the possibility of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) resuming a programme in Sri Lanka,” he said.

Minister Samaraweera said that they were confident that the Swedish business delegation will find Sri Lanka an attractive gateway to the Sub-continent and the Indian Ocean rim as the country improves market access to the Sub-continent by deepening existing free trade agreements with India and Pakistan and China.