Projecting true image of Sri Lanka, my prime responsibility - New Ambassador to US

by Samangie Wettimuny

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Sri Lankan Ambassador -designate to the US, Jaliya Wickremasuriya in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that one of his top priorities would be to rebuild the image of the country tarnished by the false propaganda of the LTTE.

He ensured the necessity to portray the true picture of the country to address the misconceptions and revealed his intentions to adopt the same strategy that he had practised in California as the Consular General, in all the fifty States on a mega scale. While explaining why the foreign missions should play a bigger role in international affairs, without confining themselves to the usual diplomatic practices, he emphasized the necessity to educate the US law makers, politicians especially the Sri Lankan expatriates on the country’s history.

Excerpts:

Q: President Mahinda Rajapaksa firmly believes that diplomats should be patriotic. Perhaps that may be one of the major reasons why the President appointed you as the Ambassador to the US. Also as the country’s top diplomat in the world’s superpower, you have a huge responsibility. How would you take up those challenges?

A: I have been living in the US for the past ten years as a businessman. In fact I am a permanent resident of the US. When I was appointed as the Consular General in California, I knew that the President had absolute faith in me as California was one of the most powerful economies in the US.

As the Consular General I proved myself worthy of that trust within just 18 months. As I took over, I got to know that the duty of the Consulate was just to issue passports, visas, death and birth certificates and to look into consular matters.

Sri Lanka being a developing country, it is an utter waste of money if we are to have a Consulate in Los Angeles simply for those consular matters. I was thoroughly discontented over it as I thought it would be a waste of my precious time and also the country’s money.

So I went beyond that, of course with the help of others and managed to organise a lot of events. Whatever I did I did them in style. I made the maximum use of any opportunity.

For example Independence Day was celebrated with much festivity with the participation of the U.S. government officials, diplomats and the Sri Lankan community living there- Sinhalese,Tamils and Muslims. I got them to participate in various cultural events along with their children.

Also when President Rajapaksa visited Los Angeles as the first Sri Lankan President to visit there, we managed to organise twelve different events within one and half days. I did all this because Sri Lanka needs to have more exposure.

Sometimes we may feel as to why we should give so much prominence to an independence day celebration, inviting around thousands of persons to the event. But it is important to have such social events as they would enable Sri Lankans living there to get to know one another well.

Moreover, such get -togethers make U.S. officers also understand that there are lots of Sri Lankans living there. Earlier, only the expatriates of Pakistan,India etc were doing things in style.

The Sri Lankan Independence day had been celebrated on a low key with the participation of only a few people at the Sri Lanakan Embassy. That is why I got so much support from all Sri Lankans- Tamils,Sinhalese, and Muslims alike. If you come out as a leader and work hard for the country you can get the expatriates’ support very well.

I think it is due to all these reasons that the President thought that I will do a good job in Washington. In fact recently after the appointment was made, I got to know that lots of people living there have requested the President to appoint me to Washington.

Actually I got a shock when the President informed me of his decision and I told him that I would rather continue in Los Angeles as my stay there I believe, was a huge success.

Q: The LTTE has been trying to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka through false propaganda. We all know that eminent Foreign Ministers such as late Lakshman Kadirgamar played a massive role in rebuilding the image of Sri Lanka in the international arena. Undoubtedly as the new Ambassador you also have to do a lot in this respect. What are your plans?

A: I will not go into detail. But I have a model in my mind. I have already launched my plan in Los Angeles. I think so far we have done a lot. During former minister late Mr.Kadirgamar’s tenure it was done quite well. We have to explain to the US law makers and the politicians the actual situation in Sri Lanka.

What we should highlight is that this is not an ethnic problem, but a terrorist one. In Sri Lanka 55 per cent of the Tamils live outside the North and the East.

Colombo is home to an almost equal number of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. The true picture of Sri Lanka should be portrayed in order to address misconceptions. Otherwise LTTE propaganda will continue to cause harm as in the past.

The Sri Lankan expatriates too have rendered a great service in this regard. I hope to commence a mobile service and would visit all the States meeting Senators, businessmen, Congressmen, and governors to apprise them of the correct situation.

In addition, I intend to make use of the Sri Lankan diaspora, not only the Sinhalese, but especially the Tamils and the Muslims as well ,to educate Congressmen in their respective areas.

Recently when I met two Senators, I was told that no one ever explained to them the true situation. I apprised them of the issue highlighting that the LTTE has always been a terrorist organisation and that they do not represent the Tamil community.

They assured me that they will give the Sri Lankan government every possible support and would never tolerate terrorism. I intend to meet all the 102 senators and explain to them the true situation, even to invite them to Sri Lanka to see what the reality is for themselves.

Q: About fundraisers and steps taken to stop the LTTE being funded?

A: LTTE was banned during the tenure of President Bill Clinton.US was the first country to ban the LTTE and set a good example to the rest of the world. Next the FBI took necessary steps to stop them being funded. Later as the FBI got to know that fundraising was still in progress under the name TRO, it was banned and the funds were frozen.

Q: You are quite positive that the US will never support the LTTE even indirectly? Also will there be changes in the standpoint of US in this regard after the Presidential elections this November?

A: Yeah, US will never support terrorism. In fact there are some NGOs which create problems. It is very difficult to trace them as they appear under the pretext of social service organisations. For example an NGO can collect funds in the US saying that they intend to provide financial support to a rural school in Sri Lanka.

That is why the FBI is always behind them, checking their accounts and monitoring the flow of funds. But it is an extremely difficult task. Recently US ambassador in Sri Lanka, Robert O Blake assured me that he would work very closely with us.

Whatever government comes to power in November, I don’t think there will be much change. US is always against terrorism. LTTE was banned when the Democratic party was in power and it was branded as the number one terrorist organisation by the ruling Republicans.

Also the TRO was banned. So terrorism would not be tolerated either by Obama or Mccain. That I know for sure. In fact whatever party comes to power, it is our responsibility to keep in constant touch with the Presidential candidates, law makers and senators and update them in due course. If we fail to do that it is the false propaganda of the LTTE that would succeed in the end.

Q: There is an accusation that most of the officers who go on foreign missions despite being well competent in many spheres, do not have a sufficient knowledge of the country’s history. Even the Sri Lankan community living there, especially the second generation have the same problem. Don’t you think that historical records such as Mahavamsa too could be used to educate them on the country’s history?

A: Exactly, I am thinking of starting a library at the embassy and to get the second generation who were born in the US involved in various programs. Under such programs they will even get fine opportunities to visit Sri Lanka and to exchange views. Sri Lanka which has more than 2550 years of written history has a lot to offer to the countries which have only very brief history.

In fact I have already spoken to the Discovery channel , Travel channel and documentary makers with the intention of bringing them over to Sri Lanka to do a film on our history and documentaries about Sri Lanka’s rain forests, culture etc. When you get together with Sri

Lankans and work closely with them, educating them won’t be a difficult task.

Q: US is also under the direct threat of terrorism. Both Al-Qaeda and the LTTE despite having originated on different grounds are said to have common qualities. Your opinion?

A: Yes, They have common identities and we have already highlighted those to the US government. I think that also made a big impact on the US government to name the LTTE as the Number 1 terrorist organisation in the world. FBI is well aware of its responsibilities.

Whichever government comes to power the FBI will play its role to ensure safety. I am sure they must have done research regarding the connections between the two. Not only those two, but most of the other terrorist organisations share common qualities and are well knit together.

Q: Most of the allegations levelled against Sri Lanka regarding human rights violations have not been substantiated. What is you comment?

A: Actually as I said initially I will be working quite closely with the US government officials. We have to answer such allegations properly with data and try to prove case by case. Compared to other countries it is not a big issue.

For example there are Sri Lankans who visit the US (and also other countries) and ask for asylum. What actually happens is as they go there they develop an inclination to settle down there. To prove their case they come out with forged documents which indicate that they were harassed, their houses were burnt, attempts were made to kill them etc. So as a result they can get asylum.

So we should be able to differentiate between the actual human rights violations and the fake ones. If human rights violation do take place, Sri Lankan government can take action against them. Once the action is taken, those cases need to be taken out from the data base. Otherwise they will remain as unsolved problems. Likewise we should know where to defend ourselves.

Q: As a top businessman, what steps would you take to attract US investors to the country. Also to strengthen the business ties between the two countries ?

A: Prior to my departure, I met most of the heads of Corporations-Tourist Board chairman, Tea Board chairman, Gem and Jewellery Authority chairman, heads of the Export Development Board, Trade and Commerce Ministry, and the BOI.

I asked them directly what outstanding matters the new ambassador is expected to attend to. We exchanged ideas and I made a note of all the valuable suggestions. In fact the discussion was quite fruitful.

As I said before we have the best rain forests, Ayurveda, adventure. Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala is the only one of that nature in the world. So I ‘ll conduct some university programs co-linked with it on elephant psychology and elephant studies. Thus we need to market our country in the proper manner. I’ll do that as one of my highest priorities.

Q: Don’t you think that we should have a strong media to project the true picture of the country internationally?

A: Yes, I hope to work quite closely with the international media- especially with the US media. Our prime responsibility is to present the true picture to address the misconceptions. Even local media have to play a bigger role. It is our duty and responsibility to protect the country and give the correct message to the outside world..

Sri Lanka is quite a peaceful country 90 per cent.

The problem is the remaining 10 per cent.It is due to terrorism. Media need to highlight that. But some media organisations fail to do that. But I believe that following the recent discussion the President had with the media heads, they would act accordingly. He requested all the media to be fair and I am sure they will take it positively.