Para-diplomacy to harness diaspora potential for country’s benefit: FM

Sri Lanka should re-conceptualise its position as an Indian Ocean country, while exploring the use of para- diplomacy to reap maximum benefit out of current world affairs which has attracted greater focus to the Asian region, said Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

He was speaking as the Chief Guest at the 20th Convocation ceremony of Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) held at the BMICH on April 30.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was the Guest of Honour at the graduation ceremony for the Postgraduate Diploma and Diploma courses in Diplomacy and World affairs for the academic year 2013/2014. “On almost every measure, the world’s centre of gravity is shifting towards the East, so there can be no doubt that this is the Asian Century: By 2030, Asia is projected to become the world’s largest economic region, while in 2013, for the first time in modern history, Asian Defence spending exceeded Europe’s,” said Mr Samaraweera.

He further said that Sri Lanka should have a systematic approach and mechanism for harnessing the diaspora. “To our loss, they have not featured prominently in our Foreign policymaking and, as a country, we have done little to harness their capital, relationships and knowledge for our development. This is not true of many other countries. India has an entire ministry dedicated to Overseas Indian Affairs, while eight other countries also have diaspora affairs ministerial portfolios.”

Mr. Samaraweera emphasised that the Foreign policy of the country must be aligned to the interests and welfare of all Sri Lankans. He also said that, for the modern Sri Lankan diplomats, salesmanship will be as important as statesmanship.

“Securing foreign investment, encouraging exports, promoting tourism and acquiring foreign expertise will be at the very centre of the Foreign ministry’s role,” he said.