Colombo, Aug 18 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lanka’s new Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, on Friday pledged to uphold human rights in the island country and said his government had won the appreciation of the international community in dealing with rights issues.
After assuming his official duties at the Foreign Ministry, Marapana told reporters that in order to attract investments and more tourists, then Sri Lanka had to show itself as a responsible country.
“We have to show that we take our human rights issues seriously and we do not want to discriminate any country,” Marapana said.
“We have been able to prove to the international community that we are a responsible government and we take our rights issues seriously. We are conscious of our obligations to the international community,” he said.
The Minister added that Sri Lanka had maintained and would continue a friendly foreign policy and would maintain cordial relations with all countries equally.
“Whether it is the north, west, east or south, we will maintain friendly relations with all,” he said.
Marapana was earlier this week sworn in as the new Foreign Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena following the resignation of Ravi Karunanayake over his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal.
Marapana had previously served as Minister of Law and Order and Prison Reforms before officially resigning from the position on November 9, 2015
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