United National Party (UNP) former Deputy Leader and MP Ravi Karunanayake has expressed his views on Sri Lanka’s foreign policy and the potential impact of the newly appointed ambassadors from the United States and China.
Speaking in an interview with Ceylon Wire, Karunanayake said Sri Lanka should pursue a foreign policy that is suited to the country’s interests and delivers the greatest possible benefits.
He said certain countries are particularly important to Sri Lanka’s diplomatic and foreign policy interests, highlighting India as the country’s closest neighbour and stressing the importance of maintaining strong relations with it.
Karunanayake said Sri Lanka should make use of India’s rapid economic growth and geographical proximity to strengthen economic opportunities.
He also said Sri Lanka should maintain a friendly relationship with the United States, which he described as a global superpower, in order to attract investment and expand market opportunities.
At the same time, Karunanayake identified China as an important friendly country for investment and trade.
He said these factors should be taken into consideration when formulating Sri Lanka’s foreign policy.
