ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s newly elected Leftist President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met Ambassadors of america and Russia to Colombo whereas the brand new chief is but to spell out his authorities’s overseas coverage.
Dissanayake, the chief of Marxists Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led Nationwide Individuals’s Energy (NPP) coalition received the presidential election and is operating an interim authorities with a three-member cupboard after dissolving the parliament.
Dissanayake’s celebration prior to now has been towards India and raised considerations over Indian expansionism within the island nation. Nevertheless, in the course of the election marketing campaign, Dissanayake and his celebration members had been silent on his overseas coverage.
Political and overseas coverage analysts have seen Dissanayake as a pro-Chinese language and pro-Russian as a consequence of his JVP’s affiliation to communism.
On Tuesday, the President met with U.S. Ambassador Julie J. Chung on the Presidential Secretariat earlier than assembly the Russian envoy to Colombo Levan S. Dzhagaryan, the President’s Media Division (PMD) stated.
Ambassador Chung emphasised the significance of fostering strong bilateral relations between america and Sri Lanka with explicit focus being positioned on enhancing diplomatic relations between the 2 nations, together with fostering financial and social cooperation in areas of mutual curiosity to each nations, the PMD stated.
In the course of the assembly, Ambassador Dzhagaryan conveyed the congratulatory message from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Dissanayake on his current election.
“The discussions targeted on strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Russia,” the PMD stated.
“Each events highlighted the significance of enhancing cooperation in key areas corresponding to commerce, funding, tradition, and training, whereas reaffirming their dedication to deepening diplomatic ties for the mutual advantage of each nations.”
Sri Lanka’s previous governments confronted penalties for following pro-U.S., pro-Indian, and pro-Chinese language overseas insurance policies, regardless of the nation formally saying it was following a non-aligned overseas coverage.
“The brand new president faces restricted coverage choices, having to implement painful austerity measures led by the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) and facilitated by India (and the West),” Rajni Gamage and Harindra B. Dassanayake, two researchers, collectively wrote in a column printed in a column of the Nationwide College of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew Faculty of Public Coverage web site.
“Nevertheless, Dissanayake’s perceived ideological and political proximity to China has forged uncertainty over his overseas coverage course.”
Each envoys of India and China to Sri Lanka met President Dissanayake even earlier than the oath taking of his after the election.
Earlier chief Ranil Wickremesinghe adopted a ‘pals of all, enemy on none’ overseas coverage. However authorities officers stated his authorities needed to act on some points because of the geopolitical chilly battle between India and China throughout the nation. (Colombo/October 1/2024)