Sri Lanka – China Friendship Association (SLCFA) commends President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s request to world powers to respect the “sovereignty and unitary status of our country, when maintaining relations with us.” He emphasized that “We want to remain neutral in our foreign relations and stay out of any conflicts among the world powers”. This statement, made during his address to the nation on Monday, 18th November 2019 is an important warning given to imperialists who are creating chaos in many parts of the world.
This is in line with our long standing tradition of non-alignment. In this light President Rajapaksa continues the progressive foreign policy, which has been the hallmark of prudent diplomacy in post independent Sri Lanka. The policy of non-alignment worked in the first few decades after the independence, only because of the existence of the socialists countries. For the last 30 years the United States and its allies have been intervening in the affairs of other nations. However in recent years nations like Sri Lanka have received some breathing space due to the rise of China, who has hitherto respected sovereignty and territorial integrity of its partners.
We urge President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to be vigilant about open and under cover imperialist conspiracies in order to save Sri Lanka from chaotic situations like in Hong Kong, Venezuela, Bolivia, Iran and various other countries. During the recent Presidential Election the masses of this country categorically opposed all agreements forced on us by US imperialists, when they paved way for the historic victory of the new President.
Ananda Goonatilleke 19th November 2019.
Attorney-at-Law
President
Sri Lanka – China Friendship Association (SLCFA)