The world finds priority in economic diplomacy rather than traditional diplomacy, said Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, speaking at a meeting held between him and the newly appointed Sri Lankan Ambassadors and High Commissioners to other states at Temple Trees today (26).
The Prime Ministers instructed the Ambassadors and High Commissioners to uplift the image of Sri Lanka, which is a friendly, unbound and neutral state, by resorting to attracting investment opportunities and promoting exports and the tourism industry, and urged them to extend their maximum support to the committees appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe for investment and export promotion.
Commenting on the economic crisis befallen the island nation and the move of restructuring debts, Gunawardena emphasised that all Ambassadors and High Commissioners should work towards investments, joint ventures and bilateral partnerships to enable production, export and rapid development rather than relying on aid and credit.
The expatriates and their associations should be closely cooperated with for receiving more investments, career opportunities and development aid, he went on, stressing that friendly states can work together with Sri Lanka towards its efforts to develop the fields of Agriculture, Industries, Information Technology and Tourism for making the Island Nation self-sufficient with food.
The event was attended by 16 newly appointed Sri Lankan Ambassadors and High Commissioners, including Chithrangani Wageeswara (Australia), Admiral Prof. Jayanath Kolambage (Indonesia), Maneesha Gunasekara (France), H.M.G.R.R.K. Mendi (Bahrein), Dr. A.S.U. Mendis (Viet Nam), Waruni Muthukumarana (Germany), Kapila Jayaweera (Lebanon), M.H.M.N. Bandara (Israel), K.K. Theshantha Kumarasiri (Ethiopia), Dr. Chanaka H. Thalpahewa (Philippines), Priyangika Wijegunasekara (Jordan), B. Kandeepan (Kuwait), Himali Arunathilaka (Geneva), Udaya Indraratna (United Arab Emirates) and Sandy Emirates Samarasinghe (Consular General – Melbourne).
