By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): Former British Prime Minister David Cameron, a friend of Sri Lanka especially having close contacts with President Ranil Wickremasinghe has been appointed as the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reshuffled his Cabinet today (Monday), bringing in former PM David Cameron as Foreign Secretary in a surprising move, UK media reported.
This appointment will renew friendly relations between Sri Lanka and Great Britan which were tainted by human rights issues in the recent past.
Relations with the West have been shaky in recent years over the country’s human rights record. The UK, in particular, has been instrumental in international attempts to hold Sri Lanka accountable for alleged human rights violations.
When incumbent UK Prime minister Rishi Sunak was sworn in in October 2022, President Wickremesinghe expressed his confidence that ties between the two island nations would be further strengthened under Sunak’s leadership
President Wickremesinghe is looking westward in his ambitions to resolve Sri Lanka’s ongoing currency crisis and usher in development.
Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron has met Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo in Janaury this year.
Cameron was recently involved in promoting the Colombo Port City among investors in the MIddle East, at the behest of the Government of Sri Lanka.
He replaces James Cleverly, who is replacing Suella Braverman as Home Secretary. Braverman was sacked after days of speculation following her criticism of police actions with regard to pro-Palestinian protests in the UK.
Meanwhile, Under-Secretary of State for Primary Care and Public Health Neil O’Brien and Schools Minister Nick Gibb have said they intend to step down for unrelated reasons.
Cameron has taken measures to promote the Colombo Port City at an invitee-only separate top events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on 26 September.
He was involved in a conversation on “Now is the time to invest in the Port City Colombo, Sri Lanka.”
The exclusive event was also focused on the role of Sri Lanka in the new Indo-Pacific economy and position Port City as the nexus of trade investment and sustainability.
The event showcased Port City Colombo as a new city rising from the Indian ocean, as a strategic financial, residential, medical, education, leisure and entertainment hub for South Asia, Indian-Sub Continent, Middle East, East Africa and Southeast Asia.
Prime movers of the event included Senior Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka Nirj Deva Aditya who is a former UK MEP European Parliament and ex-MP of British Parliament and The Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute Chairman Lakshmi Narayanan and the Port City Economic Commission.
The 56 year old Cameron served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016.
He served as Leader of the Opposition from 2005 to 2010, and was Member of Parliament (MP) for Witney from 2001 to 2016. He identifies as a one-nation conservative, and has been associated with both economically liberal and socially liberal policies.
