Sri Lanka to pursue ?friendship with all, enmity with none?

Sri Lanka will pursue a ?friendship with all, enmity with none? policy, new Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake said during a meeting with the diplomatic corps in Sri Lanka.

Minister Karunanayake, at his first briefing session held for the Diplomatic Community and Honorary Consular Corps, thanked the countries for their generous and timely assistance following the floods and landslides.

He also expressed his gratitude to the countries that sent messages of sympathy and expressed support for the people of Sri Lanka at this difficult time, the Foreign Ministry said.

The Minister highlighted the challenges that lay ahead of Sri Lanka in handling the post flood recovery, reconstruction of affected areas, as well as building capacity for the Prevention and Mitigation of future disasters. He underlined the cooperation and assistance that Sri Lanka would expect from its bilateral and multilateral partners in implementing projects in these areas.

Minister Karunanayake reiterated that under his stewardship, Sri Lanka will pursue the policy of ?Friendship with all and enmity with none?. Acknowledging the success made by the country in the area of Foreign Relations with its partners, under the stewardship of former Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, the Minister assured the Diplomatic Community that he would strive to build on the success of his predecessor.

Minister Karunanayake further affirmed that he would seek to translate the prevailing positive climate into securing economic benefits for the country by focussing more on commercial diplomacy through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Vasantha Senanayake also addressed the Diplomatic Community and expressed his desire to work with them very closely. (Colombo Gazette)