Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa attended Thursday’s (7) parliament session wearing the keffiyeh, a black and white scarf, a symbol of Palestinian identity and history, as a mark of solidarity to attain peace in the Middle East and world-wide.
Speaking on the country’s Foreign Policy, the opposition leader said that a foreign policy forms the basic fulcrum of governance.
“A strong, innovative, vibrant, thought-providing, result-oriented foreign policy is of great benefit to our own nation state,” he added in his comments.
He went on to note that Sri Lanka’s track record in terms of abiding by agreements is dismal, adding that abiding by agreements, and credibility is critical for a foreign policy.
“We have been a signatory to protect human rights, civic rights, political rights, economic, social, cultural and religious rights. Unfortunately, in the domestic jurisdiction, the government has embarked on a so-called Online Safety Bill, and an Anti-Terrorism Bill, which destroy the very essence of democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of affiliation to political parties, expressing one’s vision and wishes,” he said.
He said the Sri Lankan Foreign Policy must walk the talk.