Sri Lanka's foreign policy
by Sarath WIJESINGHE
The Foreign Policy of a country is a set of rules that seems to
outline the behaviour of a particular country and how it interacts with
other countries and international organisations. This mainly depends on
internal, external, political and the "global, economic and political
considerations".
Foreign Policy should be compatible with all forms of internal,
political and economic considerations therefore special emphasis is
given in the area of foreign policy in any form of Government. Sri Lanka
needs this badly due to anti Sri Lanka propaganda within and outside.
Good image is based on the conduct of the Head of State and Government
in power. Sometimes outside powers rock the boat due to international
politics and petty considerations.
Generally the Head of State formulates and implements foreign policy
depending on the political and economic climate of the day. Generally
the foreign policy of a State is not static and confined to narrow
goals. There were discussions recently about the foreign policy of Sri
Lanka today in the present political and economic climate.
It is clearly stated in Mahinda Chintana which is implemented by the
Head of the State based on the policy and his personality amongst the
family of nations. Mahinda Chintana briefly gives an outline of the
policy as follows:
"I will continue Sri Lanka's non-aligned foreign policy. During the
last four years we witnessed the benefits of maintaining friendly
relations with India, Japan, China, Pakistan and other Asian countries.
I am committed to continue these friendly relations in the political,
economic, defence, trade and cultural arena.
I will ensure that Sri Lanka abides by the global treaties and
agreements on environmental and climate change and will strengthen Sri
Lanka's ties with the UN Agencies.
I will maintain the dignity of my country in foreign relations and
will initiate a new program to forge relations with countries."
Countries and regional institutions are as selfish as individuals and
the policy depends on the interest of the peoples of the respective
nation or the organisation. Sometimes legislation too formulates and
directly and indirectly implements foreign policy.
Indian foreign policy
Indian foreign policy is somewhat static and firm irrespective of
change of power as the administrative machinery traditionally protects
the policies and interests in the interest of the nation. India is
extremely successful in managing her foreign policy. In India
governments may change but not necessarily the foreign policy. In Sri
Lanka it is not so. It varies from government to government. Always the
United National Party tends to be pro West and the SLFP is a non aligned
and friendly with all.
US foreign policy
In the United States it is the President who formulates and
implements foreign policy. As a world power and self-appointed world
policeman. USA's foreign policy is subjected to greater scrutiny by the
entire world and plays a main role in world economies and politics.
The attitude of the USA towards Afghanistan which is the newest
member of the SAARC group and Iraq which is still in turmoil are matters
which concern our member states and the region directly and indirectly.
In the United Kingdom it is the Prime Minister who formulates and
implements the foreign policy as in France, and many EU and other
countries.
In the former USSR too it was the President who was responsible
directly for the foreign policy. National security, world security,
economic prosperity.
Peace
Ideological goals and more importantly peace and wars depend on the
foreign policy considerations of States and international organisations.
The pronouncement of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in public forums and
Mahinda Chintana is complete and exhaustive. It has proved that Sri
Lankan President is an emerging world leader and Sri Lanka continues to
be a major player in the international arena being a very senior
respectable member of the United Nations. Sri Lankan President has not
strictly deviated from the policy adopted by Madam Bandaranaike, who
managed it well in the 1970s. Today it is the new world with no cold war
and the creation of the global village as a result of the unprecedented
and amazing E-com developments that have transformed the entire social,
political and economic fabric of the world.
President Mahinda is friendly, warm and realistic . He has become a
main player in the politics of the Chess Game within a short spell of
time. Foreign Policy of the country depends on the conduct and behaviour
of the leader, his reputation and charisma. Mrs. Bandaranaike made us a
respectable and active member of the world family and her relations with
India was excellent.
She settled Kachchativu and Indo-SL dispute amicably using her
personal connections with India. So are the conduct and relations of
President Mahinda with India and the Indian leaders despite venomous
anti Sri Lankan propaganda by our own misguided opposition and some non
governmental organisations.
President Rajapaksa who is lovable and popular among the family of
states, has adopted his own way and style using his charisma and
personal charm which is a great gift to the nation. He has realised that
we need honest and genuine friends in need.
Warm relations
Close-warm friendships and relations with Iran, Japan, Pakistan,
China, Russia, UK and EU are well done and well thought of. He addresses
world gatherings at ease and without a script unlike Blair or Brown.
Every human being and nation consisting of humans is selfish and has
their own agenda in the interests of their citizens. Therefore, it is
natural that Indo-Sri Lankan relations have difficult periods. Every
nation has internal issues and the priority should be given to their own
citizens. But to the credit of both nations nowhere during the long
history India ever invaded Sri Lanka completely though there were
provincial rulers who partially invaded for short periods. We inherited
religion, culture and many other values and sources of developments
mainly from our big brother for which we are ever grateful. Even the
1987 episode could have been avoided and we handled it properly based on
a firm and correct foreign policy sounded on trust, confidence and
goodwill.
The Indian central government depends for their existence on Tamil
Nadu which is one of the largest provinces and generally the deciding
factor of any government always hands on the balance of power of the
provinces. Tamil Nadu has 32 seats out of 552 in the Lok Sabha and has a
say on the Central Government and governance in general. Dravidian
parties organized themselves since 1916 by forming a welfare association
in Tamils which subsequently changed to a political union.
Buddhism and Hinduism
In 1944 Dravidian Kazhagam party was formed and today it has split
into many sub groups and is in power in turns mainly as leading actors
in the forefront. "Muran" and many powerful dynasties (C265-238BC)never
thought of invading Sri Lanka though the provinces had their own
struggles, differences and bloody wars. They left Sri Lanka alone for
thousands of years. Buddhism and Hinduism have been the most valuable
Indian contributions to Sri Lanka which has developed close bonds in all
respects. Both Sri Lanka and India are tolerant and secular nations
where the citizens enjoy ideals of modern democratic principles which
are similar to traditional ideals practised for thousands and thousands
of years.
Even closest family members at times are faced with minute
differences. Therefore it is natural that both countries have at times
strained their close friendly bonds due to mismanagement of foreign
policy; mostly by us. In India governments may change but not the
foreign policy and the system of administration. But on the whole the
relations between the two countries were extremely cordial.
King Asoka
King Asoka sent his son Mahinda and daughter Sangamitta as emissaries
to propagate Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan King Devanampiyatissa
though they had not met has been a close friend of King Asoka who
conquered the whole of India. He did not want to conquer Sri Lanka due
to the close friendship with King Tissa.
King Asoka was not a happy man due to the large number of massacres
and devastations as a result of war. He led a disturbed life wanting
mental rest and peace when he came across Nigroda Samanera (Novice
Bhikkhu) walking along the road happily and peacefully accepting food
offered by the public. He invited the Samanera to his palace and
requested him to sit in a proper seat. The Samanera sat on the King's
Chair being the most suitable position to a person who has shed all
worldly ties.
The King was extremely happy and embraced Buddhism and spent the rest
of his life for the propagation of Buddhism and the peaceful way of
life. Indo-Sri Lanka relations, since then have been excellent. Mr. and
Mrs. Bandaranaike during their regimes developed strong political and
personal bonds between the two countries, leaders and their families.
Today Sri Lankan President has also developed strong personal and
political bonds between the two countries and leaders.
Cautious and diplomatic
President Rajapaksa has been extremely cautious and diplomatic in
dealing with the power blocks interested primarily in their interest
especially in the volatile and uncertain world politics and economy
which crumbled with no notice facing them with the most disastrous
recession ever. South Asia and Sri Lanka were less affected due to their
simplicity and management of their own affairs based on Home Grown
solutions.
The response from the USA senate is wonderful-that they cannot afford
to lose Sri Lanka - and it is time they realize we should not be drifted
toward a political block out of sheer necessity. It is time the
diplomatic community of the West and USA in Sri Lanka should play a safe
game to
maintain and enhance good relations with Sri Lanka without being
interested in local politics however interesting it is.
President honoured
Award Honorius Causa Doctorate from the People's Friendship
University of Russia on President Rajapaksa is the zenith of his
achievement for the conduct of international affairs from the assumption
of the office as the President of Sri Lanka four years ago.
It is to his credit and respect to the nation that the sixth and the
most rare honour of awarding the prestigious academic excellence on
peace was awarded for the services rendered to mankind by eliminating
the terror outfit to the disbelief and surprise of the Global Community.
Wall Street Journal of USA reported in the speech of President " I know
as well as anyone that our future success relies on lasting peace.
Eradication of terrorism was an important milestone in that process,
but the nation needs to be bound by a common purpose. My new government
will address the genuine grievances of all communities and foster the
enforcement of equal rights for all".
It was during the last few days of the end of the terror regime that
maximum pressure was exerted to President Rajapaksa by the Western
leaders, EU, USA, UN, and a number of powerful NGOs wanted to stop the
war on terror and enter into the same old peace process that failed and
"Hell" in Sri Lanka at the cost of hundreds of thousands of human lives
and destruction of trillions of rupees of national wealth.
India, China, USSR, Middle East, Africa and the Sri Lankan expatriate
community stood firmly with President Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka isolating
USA, UK and EU with NGOs and Inter Governmental organizations depending
on public and UN funds, which is proof of the successful conduct of
international affairs based on Mahinda Chintana and his own style on the
process of dealing with the international community, which is reiterated
in Mahinda Chintana.
President's conduct
President's conduct as a leader of a country with an unstable and
volatile political and war situation during the war on terror has been
exemplary cautious, well planned and well thought of. It is difficult to
satisfy the political agenda of the complicated world political
groupings, UN and Non-governmental organizations and the Sri Lankan
policy while maintaining the vision, identity and the interest of the
Nation with a minority government representing different political and
ethnic groups with difficult, different and unattainable demands. Every
mission to meet world leaders was with a purpose and vision. Leading a
trade mission to China the leading political and economic power in the
near future, meeting the President of Iran when we had fuel shortages,
meeting President Gadaffi when he was about to be appointed to Chair the
Human Rights Committee when UN and INGOs were trailing us to deal
internationally, hosting of SAARC which was enhanced and strengthened
close ties with India and the SAARC countries just before the last lap
of the end of terror where we were blessed with the group of SAARC and
other regional organizations attended the summit as observers. Address
the UN and taking part in international forums such as the address to
the Oxford students union in the United Kingdom strengthened President
international stature as an emerging world leader leading a fair cross
section of the human community in the globe.
International relations of a Nation depend on the vision, conduct,
personality and the conduct of diplomacy of the Chief Executive in the
world family representing the Nation region and the world in
international forums and dealing with world leaders and international
organizations. Successful world leaders had their own style of
conducting international affairs in the international arena. Nehru, Chou
En Lai, Indira Ghandi, Tony Blair, Putin, Bush, Obama and other leading
and charismatic world leaders on assuming power changed the foreign
policy of the country according to the current needs of the day.
In India the foreign policy is streamlined as it is very slowly and
rarely the policy deviates from the mainstream due to their discipline
and rigidity in foreign affairs administration and governance. In Sri
Lanka foreign policy deviations are marked and effective. S.W.R.D.
Bandaranaike brought about a complete change in foreign policy after Sir
John Kotalawela's policy which was modified to non-alignment by Madam
Sirimavo Bandaranaike until J.R. Jayewardene again changed the policy to
a mixture of pro West and non-alignments. Rajapaksa government is
victorious with a unique foreign policy unique to Mahinda Rajapaksa's
"International Personality" which is basically non-alignment with
modifications based on the realities on international economic and world
order in the fast changing new world of Information Technology which has
changed our globe to a borderless modern and wonderful world.
President is unique
Uniqueness of President Rajapaksa is the non-negotiability in main
issues such as unitary nature of the State, sovereignty, equality among
Nations, sovereignty of the Nation and the people , love and respect to
Motherland, equality and impartiality towards all the citizens sans
differences, and service to the brethren based on equality and with
respect to all modes and norms of individual and collective Human
Rights.
Despite the excellent relations with the world family the worrying
factor is the misunderstanding of some western countries and INGOs due
to vigorous campaign by powerful pro-LTTE elements which are fast
disintegrating. President Rajapaksa has friendship of the intention of
mending fences with the West with his charm and diplomatic which has
been proved successful. He has secured the trend skill or the Eastern
block including the Central Asia, Middle East with Iran and other Oil
Rich , Africa, small orbital nations around USA, and of course the two
emerging world powers China and USSR which were instrumental in bailing
us out when we were in danger of being interrogated by the UN on false
and malicious LTTE related propaganda. Nation is confident and prays his
next mission towards the West will be another success story as has been
proved before.President Rajapaksa's initiation to ensure to abide by
global treaties and agreements on climate change is encouraging when the
world is facing grave danger of slow destruction of the planet due to
unplanned industrialization and developments.
It is also time for us to review the position with the Charter of the
United Nations established in place of the League of Nations
anticipating a more effective world organization. It is time for us to
be active as Asians promoting the emerging power India as a member of
the Security Council and to be more close to SAARC aiming to be "Wonder
of Asia".
The writer is the Ambassador for Sri Lanka in the United Arab
Emirates.
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