Foreign minister calls upon overseas Lankan to help Govt. initiate key changes
COLOMBO –Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Monday (17) called upon Sri Lankans overseas to help he government initiate key changes beneficial to the country.
Gunawardena, who assumed duties at the foreign ministry on Monday, in an address to the staff, said the government was ready to rise up to the new challenges with the mandate given by the people of Sri Lanka. He also noted that a strong government with a non-aligned and friendly foreign policy, in office, a number of key changes beneficial to the country were envisioned.
Outlining the government’s efforts to address issues arising in the post-COVID-19 era, the minister said Sri Lanka was geared to achieve its economic goals in the next few years. In this context, he said the Department of Commerce has also been brought under the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a view to enhancing the exports, investments and entrepreneurship of Sri Lankans.
Welcoming the minister, Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayantha Colombage highlighted the successful role played by the foreign ministry towards curbing and containing the spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. Speaking on the three pillars of the president’s vision: National Security, Economic Development and Foreign Relations; Colombage expressed confidence the newly appointed foreign minister’s vision will definitely contribute to positively projecting Sri Lanka, internationally.
The minister pledged his fullest support to strengthen the role played by the foreign services and the foreign ministry and thereby to fulfil the foreign policy objectives of the newly appointed government.
-ENCL