13 January 2024 12:00 am Views - 91
By Kelum Bandara
In an apparent expression of discontent regarding Sri Lanka’s decision to deploy a Navy ship to join US-led operations in the Red Sea to counter Houthi rebel attacks from Yemen, West Asian ambassadors who recently met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe asserted that the United States and the United Kingdom engage in such actions in line with their security agreements with Israel whereas other countries don’t have such pacts.
The ambassadors, who held a meeting with the President on Thursday, emphasized their countries’ commitment to the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, urging Israel to also respect it.
During the meeting, as reported in yesterday’s edition of Daily Mirror, President Wickremesinghe clarified that Sri Lanka maintains a non-aligned military stance with any specific country but is deploying the Navy ship to ensure freedom of navigation. Expressing gratitude for Sri Lanka’s support of the Palestinian cause, the ambassadors highlighted the importance of Sri Lanka continuing to make decisions in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Also, the ambassadors requested Sri Lanka to ensure that its workers in Israel are not involved in resettlement work in ‘occupied territory.’