International community should support Sri Lanka: Erik Solheim

Colombo, October 04 (Daily Mirror)- The international community should support Sri Lanka in building a peaceful, multi ethnic, green and prosperous Sri Lanka, Norwegian diplomat and former politician Erik Solheim said.

He said in a message posted on X that it is only two weeks since Sri Lanka elected Anura Kumara Dissanayaka as President but he has used the time well. 

"He got the diplomacy exactly right. First meeting with the Indian High Commissioner, then the Chinese ambassador, signalling that India is most important for Sri Lanka, then comes China next. Later he met ambassadors from everywhere else, the West, Russia and more. This is a clear signal of a 'Sri Lanka first' foreign policy. Immediately upon swearing in he visited the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and was blessed by the mahanayakes. Later he met with Tamil and Muslim political and religious leaders. His insistence on creating a Sri Lanka for all ethnic communities is strong," he said.

Solheim said the President has reached out to the business community underlining that he can create a prosperous Sri Lanka and bring the resources needed to improve education, health and opportunities for the poor only by working closely with business.

"He brings a non-corrupt core of people to state power. By reducing luxury car allowances for ministers, he signals a more modest life style for leaders. None of this will by itself solve all problems in Sri Lanka. It will not calm all skepticism to a left wing leader among diplomats. But it is for sure a good start. Everyone should now roll up their sleeves and help him build a peaceful, multi ethnic, green and prosperous Sri Lanka," he further said.