• Latest
  • Trending

Lanka’s non-aligned stance is a bulwark against foreign interference

November 15, 2020
UNHRC session forces Lanka to lift ban on Muslims burying COVID dead

UNHRC session forces Lanka to lift ban on Muslims burying COVID dead

February 26, 2021
COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka finally allows burial of Covid-19 victims

February 25, 2021
UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

February 25, 2021
Wang Yi and Dinesh Gunawardena show commonality of views on major issues

Wang Yi and Dinesh Gunawardena show commonality of views on human rights

February 25, 2021
Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

February 25, 2021
India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

February 25, 2021
Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

India’s health workers refuse to take homegrown COVID-19 vaccine

February 25, 2021
Image credits - Markus Spiske / Unsplash

India and Pakistan agree to stop cross-border firing in Kashmir

February 25, 2021
Image credits - Nathan Dumlao / Unsplash

Cocaine ‘worth billions’ seized in record Germany and Belgium haul

February 25, 2021
Image credits - Matthew Henry / Unsplash

Pakistan producing more electricity than it needs

February 25, 2021
Image credits - Melissa Askew / Unsplash

India expected to harvest record wheat, rice crops this year

February 25, 2021
Image credits - Rishabh Pant / Twitter @RishabhPant17

India renames world’s largest cricket stadium after PM Modi

February 25, 2021
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Friday, February 26, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    UNHRC session forces Lanka to lift ban on Muslims burying COVID dead

    UNHRC session forces Lanka to lift ban on Muslims burying COVID dead

    COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka finally allows burial of Covid-19 victims

    UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    Wang Yi and Dinesh Gunawardena show commonality of views on major issues

    Wang Yi and Dinesh Gunawardena show commonality of views on human rights

    Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

    Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

    India’s health workers refuse to take homegrown COVID-19 vaccine

    Image credits - Markus Spiske / Unsplash

    India and Pakistan agree to stop cross-border firing in Kashmir

    Image credits - Matthew Henry / Unsplash

    Pakistan producing more electricity than it needs

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
    Image credits - Nathan Dumlao / Unsplash

    Cocaine ‘worth billions’ seized in record Germany and Belgium haul

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Boost for COVID-19 battle, Pfizer vaccine found 94% effective in real world

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, stands on the construction site of the Tesla Gigafactory in Grünheide near Berlin, September 3, 2020. Patrick Pleul | picture alliance | Getty Images

    Musk loses world’s richest title as Tesla falters

    Image credits - Torstensimon

    India sends first vaccine doses to Africa under WHO’s COVAX programme

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Image credits - Steven Cordes / Unsplash

    Gotta catch ’em all: Pandemic sends prices soaring for Pokemon cards

    U.S. arrests wife of Mexico cartel chief El Chapo on drug charges

    U.S. arrests wife of Mexico cartel chief El Chapo on drug charges

    Whatsapp / Pic - India Today

    WhatsApp to switch off messages for all who reject new terms

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Image credits - Steven Cordes / Unsplash

    Gotta catch ’em all: Pandemic sends prices soaring for Pokemon cards

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - AdamBMorgan / big-ashb

    Grammy-winning duo Daft Punk announces split after 28 years

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Image credits - Gullah / Pixabay

    Disney returns to profit as streaming success offsets pandemic-hit parks

    ARO KOTO DIN AMI KHUJECHI TOMAKE II NANDITA II SEYLON MUSIC LOUNGE

    ARO KOTO DIN AMI KHUJECHI TOMAKE II NANDITA II SEYLON MUSIC LOUNGE

    Image credits - Neetu Kapoor / Instagram

    Rajiv Kapoor passes away at 58

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia. Image credits - CDC

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you”

    “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you”

    Swati Mohan spearheaded the attitude control and landing system of the Perseverance rover. (Image: Nasa)

    Swati Mohan, Indian-American scientist who led charge to land Nasa rover on Mars, was inspired by Star Trek as a kid

    Image credits - Luca Rüegg / Unsplash

    NASA’s astrobiology rover Perseverance makes historic Mars landing

    Image credits - Arlington Research / Unsplash

    Pandemic to widen skill gaps as workplaces change, McKinsey says

    Chinese shopping and tourism amidst the pandemic

    Chinese shopping and tourism amidst the pandemic

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - Nicole de Andrade

    Tech Tips: Signal lets users create groups with up to 1000 members, here is how to create one

    Whatsapp / Pic - India Today

    WhatsApp to switch off messages for all who reject new terms

    Image credits - Solen Feyissa / Unsplash

    Facebook news goes dark in Australia as content spat escalates

    India is a nation besieged. It is at war — with social media hashtags.

    India is a nation besieged. It is at war — with social media hashtags.

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    UNHRC session forces Lanka to lift ban on Muslims burying COVID dead

    UNHRC session forces Lanka to lift ban on Muslims burying COVID dead

    COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka finally allows burial of Covid-19 victims

    UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    Wang Yi and Dinesh Gunawardena show commonality of views on major issues

    Wang Yi and Dinesh Gunawardena show commonality of views on human rights

    Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

    Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    Image credits - Daniel Schludi / Unsplash

    India’s health workers refuse to take homegrown COVID-19 vaccine

    Image credits - Markus Spiske / Unsplash

    India and Pakistan agree to stop cross-border firing in Kashmir

    Image credits - Matthew Henry / Unsplash

    Pakistan producing more electricity than it needs

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
    Image credits - Nathan Dumlao / Unsplash

    Cocaine ‘worth billions’ seized in record Germany and Belgium haul

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    Boost for COVID-19 battle, Pfizer vaccine found 94% effective in real world

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, stands on the construction site of the Tesla Gigafactory in Grünheide near Berlin, September 3, 2020. Patrick Pleul | picture alliance | Getty Images

    Musk loses world’s richest title as Tesla falters

    Image credits - Torstensimon

    India sends first vaccine doses to Africa under WHO’s COVAX programme

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Image credits - Steven Cordes / Unsplash

    Gotta catch ’em all: Pandemic sends prices soaring for Pokemon cards

    U.S. arrests wife of Mexico cartel chief El Chapo on drug charges

    U.S. arrests wife of Mexico cartel chief El Chapo on drug charges

    Whatsapp / Pic - India Today

    WhatsApp to switch off messages for all who reject new terms

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Image credits - Steven Cordes / Unsplash

    Gotta catch ’em all: Pandemic sends prices soaring for Pokemon cards

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - AdamBMorgan / big-ashb

    Grammy-winning duo Daft Punk announces split after 28 years

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Image credits - Gullah / Pixabay

    Disney returns to profit as streaming success offsets pandemic-hit parks

    ARO KOTO DIN AMI KHUJECHI TOMAKE II NANDITA II SEYLON MUSIC LOUNGE

    ARO KOTO DIN AMI KHUJECHI TOMAKE II NANDITA II SEYLON MUSIC LOUNGE

    Image credits - Neetu Kapoor / Instagram

    Rajiv Kapoor passes away at 58

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia. Image credits - CDC

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you”

    “What you say is not as important as the bookcase behind you”

    Swati Mohan spearheaded the attitude control and landing system of the Perseverance rover. (Image: Nasa)

    Swati Mohan, Indian-American scientist who led charge to land Nasa rover on Mars, was inspired by Star Trek as a kid

    Image credits - Luca Rüegg / Unsplash

    NASA’s astrobiology rover Perseverance makes historic Mars landing

    Image credits - Arlington Research / Unsplash

    Pandemic to widen skill gaps as workplaces change, McKinsey says

    Chinese shopping and tourism amidst the pandemic

    Chinese shopping and tourism amidst the pandemic

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - Nicole de Andrade

    Tech Tips: Signal lets users create groups with up to 1000 members, here is how to create one

    Whatsapp / Pic - India Today

    WhatsApp to switch off messages for all who reject new terms

    Image credits - Solen Feyissa / Unsplash

    Facebook news goes dark in Australia as content spat escalates

    India is a nation besieged. It is at war — with social media hashtags.

    India is a nation besieged. It is at war — with social media hashtags.

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home Diplomacy

Lanka’s non-aligned stance is a bulwark against foreign interference

Sri Lanka is not a piece of real estate to be bartered away, says Foreign Secretary Adm.Prof.Colombage

Editor by Editor
November 15, 2020
in Diplomacy, Politics, Sri Lanka, Strategic Affairs, United States
Reading Time: 4min read
3 0
Share on WhatsApp

By, Sugeeswara Senadhira/Daily News

Colombo, November 13: The media hype on Presidential Elections and General Elections in powerful countries has made almost every citizen an amateur analyst of international affairs and this has resulted in people worrying to death over real or imaginary adverse affects of regime changes abroad.

The most interesting pastime of Sri Lankans is to follow the General Elections in India every five years and Presidential Elections in the United States every four years and come out with pragmatic or imaginary – sometimes most astonishing – predictions about the impact on Sri Lanka.

There is no denying that it is essential for a country to closely monitor the political developments in other powerful nations and to analyze possible impacts. However, it is most essential for a country to formulate its foreign policy in such a manner that would ensure changes in leadership of global or regional powers would not adversely affect the country. No country wishes to compromise its sovereignty and territorial integrity due to the intervention of big powers.

Not only Sri Lanka, but the entire world can be happy about the victory of Joe Biden at the US Presidential Election as there was an apprehension about the actions of President Donald Trump, who took many ad hoc decisions, adversely affecting harmony and cohesion in international relations. Furthermore, the presidency of Trump was considered a disruptive period in global politics and his unpredictable actions such as stopping contributions to the World Health Organization (WHO) and sudden withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) were detrimental to healthcare and human rights of the people of many countries.

Not only South Asia, but also the South American countries could be happy about Biden’s choice of running mate – Kamala Harris, who will be the next Vice President. Kamala Harris was born to a Jamaican-American father and an Indian Tamil mother, both immigrants who met in the US. Her mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, was a breast cancer researcher and a bio-medical scientist by profession. Kamala succeeded as an attorney and became the first female District Attorney of San Francisco, first female Attorney General of California and first Afro-Indian-American in the US Senate.

In her victory speech, she made special mention about black women who contributed to the struggle for suffrage, equality and civil rights. Her stance on the ‘green new deal’ and her vow to keep oil and gas companies accountable were plus points that drove the Biden–Harris team to victory.

What Sri Lanka seeks is, as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stated in his congratulatory twitter message to Biden–Harris, cooperation with the United States. “Look forward to working closely with you to strengthen the bilateral relations between our two countries,” President Rajapaksa has said in his tweet. “The Government and the people of Sri Lanka join me in extending our warmest congratulations to President-elect @JoeBiden and Vice-President-elect @KamalaHarris on this victory. We look forward to working together towards an even more robust, mutually-rewarding partnership.”

The ardent desire of the neutral countries in the world is to see a global order where states are respected on the principle of respect for sovereignty and a world in which rule-based multilateral trading systems are respected and international laws and institutions are upheld. They also believe that the superpowers in the world should resolve their differences without any confrontation and muscle–flexing, or pressurizing other countries to choose sides.

Many analysts view US–Lanka relations only in the context of US–China relations and India–China relations. The main reason for that is that Trump felt containment of China should be the top priority. However, Biden’s approach to China is different from Trump’s. Biden has acknowledged that China is making massive investments in energy, infrastructure, and technology that threaten to leave the US behind. He would attempt to reverse this trend to be able to face China credibly and peacefully. Under such a policy, Sri Lanka could derive certain advantages by speedily implementing plans underlined during the recent visit of the outgoing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena gave a list of areas in which US investments will be welcome. The listed included: trade, investment, and tourism; assistance for building capacity of Sri Lankan business; enhancing bilateral cooperation in fields such as ICT, cyber-security, science, technology, and innovation; power (LNG) sector; energy sector and railways sector (locomotives); greater access to the US market including through the expansion of the US–GSP List. These could be pursued vigorously under a Biden administration.

One of the apprehensions expressed by Sri Lankans is that the Tamil separatist Diaspora in the US would try to influence Kamala Harris to get US support to achieve their separatist goals. This fear is mainly due to the fact that Kamala Harris is partly Tamil. It is very clear that she was selected as running-mate by Biden because for two factors – (1) she is a woman, and she would be able to woo women votes and, (2) as a woman of Black American–Asian ethnicity, she would draw the support of those two communities.

President Biden is likely to give the task of repairing heavily damaged relations between the Whites and the Blacks in the US to Harris and that would be her major role as Vice President. Under the circumstances, she is not likely to play a major foreign policy role.

Clearly elaborating the policy of the Lankan government, Foreign Secretary, Admiral (Prof.) Jayanath Colombage said that Sri Lanka will not cede control of strategic assets to another country. “Sri Lanka is not a piece of real estate and so our national interests must be respected. We don’t want to be caught up in a major power game. We don’t want to choose between countries. We don’t want to be on the bandwagon with one against the other. We need to maintain our own strategic autonomy in the Indian Ocean,” he said, giving a clear outline of the foreign policy while speaking at the Pathfinder Foundation-convened Indian Ocean Security Conference on Tuesday (November 10).

Participating in the same webinar, American Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz said that the United States will not impose its will on Sri Lanka or any other country. “As a friend and partner, the US seeks to promote an inclusive approach to national sovereignty, independence and sustainable development,” she said and added, “This is a call to rally around principles rather than a request to make alliances.”

Going by the policy pronouncements made by US President-Elect Joe Biden during the polls campaign and Ambassador Teplitz this week, it seems that Sri Lanka can hope for better understanding from, and fruitful bilateral cooperation with, the Biden Administration when it takes office on January 20, 2021.

END

 

SendShare5Tweet1ShareShare
Editor

Editor

Recommended Articles

  • All
  • Recommend
COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka finally allows burial of Covid-19 victims

February 25, 2021
Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

Lanka-Pakistan ties to acquire a new look following Imran Khan’s visit

February 25, 2021
Contribution of T.B.Jayah to Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations

Contribution of T.B.Jayah to Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations

February 23, 2021
The Bengalis’ pioneering struggle for language rights

The Bengalis’ pioneering struggle for language rights

February 21, 2021
Imran Khan’s climb to the political summit was long and hard

Imran Khan’s climb to the political summit was long and hard

February 20, 2021
Indian Foreign Minister’s visit to Male enhances economic ties with  Maldives

Indian Foreign Minister’s visit to Male enhances economic ties with Maldives

February 20, 2021

Advertorial

  • All
  • Advertorial
Visual and Textual Analysis for Images with Reverse Search Tools

Visual and Textual Analysis for Images with Reverse Search Tools

January 3, 2021

Popular Now

  • UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    12 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    11 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • Vaccines roll out to public; six centres in Colombo

    11 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • Don’t fall for this simple trick to get your WhatsApp hacked

    116 shares
    Share 100 Tweet 7
  • Contribution of T.B.Jayah to Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations

    65 shares
    Share 60 Tweet 2
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2020 NewsIn.Asia - Lovingly maintained by DigitalArc.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States

© 2020 NewsIn.Asia - Lovingly maintained by DigitalArc.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In