Former Australian PM says Sri Lanka achieves extraordinarily since economic crisis

• Emphasises on the strong, warm relationship between the people of Sri Lanka and Australia

Former Australian Prime Minister and Finance Minister Scott Morrison who arrived in Sri Lanka last week said that what Sri Lanka achieved since the economic crisis was extraordinary.  
He was here on the invitation of Don Susantha Katugampala, Chairman and Founder of Fairfields Lawyers, to further strengthen ties between Australia and Sri Lanka.   

 Speaking at a special reception in Colombo, Mr. Morrison said it was wonderful to be in Colombo.  
“It is wonderful to be here with my friend Don, and congratulations to you, Don, on 25 years of Fairfields Lawyers. So that’s tremendous, and it’s great that you can be acknowledged here in your homeland, which I know you feel very passionate about. It was that passion in part that encouraged me to come back to visit Sri Lanka again.” He recalled his previous visits to Sri Lanka and said a lot has changed over a period of time. “The very hotel I’m staying in at the moment was not here when I first came. The Galle Face Hotel was here, though.” “Colombo is a wonderful, rich, exciting city, and I think for the Australians who have the opportunity to come here, I think they always get a really great surprise about what they find. The diversity of the city is exciting. The restaurants, attractions, cultural activities are very, very rich, and so when people come to Sri Lanka, and if you have come from Australia, I would encourage you to certainly go and experience the world-class resorts and attractions all around the country. Now in my time here I have been up to Jaffna, not on this occasion, but I have been there several times. I have even been to Kilinochchi and had a curry in Kilinochchi with some old colleagues at the time,” he recalled further. Mr. Morrison further said that the Admiral, who was the Ambassador of Australia, is here with us tonight, as were others who he met when Australia gifted a Bay-class vessel to Sri Lanka many years ago. “We visited Trincomalee Harbour and the naval officers were very proud of Trincomalee Harbour. They recalled how Lord Nelson said that Trincomalee was the best harbour in the world.” “Trincomalee is an absolutely remarkable place. I think that’s what Australians find when they come here; about the diversity that Sri Lanka has to offer. The other reason I came to Sri Lanka at Don’s urging was to show some solidarity with Sri Lankans. Sri Lankans are great friends of Australia.” He further said that there is a wonderful people-to-people relationship between Sri Lanka and Australia. “It is warm, it is real, and it is across all the things we love, such as cricket, food and all of these things. Sri Lanka has been through, over the last, I could say decade, but I could equally say 40 years, some of the most difficult times that any nation would ever have to confront. What struck me about the people of Sri Lanka and my dear friends from Sri Lanka, many of whom are here tonight, has been the resilience of the Sri Lankan people. Despite what is thrown at you, you love life, you love your families, you love your communities, you love your country. You stand by it, you stand by each other, you push through, and that’s what gives me a lot of optimism about Sri Lanka.” “As we stand in this magnificent hotel on this bridge looking over the sea, I think it is a monument to showcase the resilience of Sri Lanka; how this has come out of the ground and been built over the last decade. I remember when I came here the first time, it was just a hoarding along the side of the road.” “I think over a period of time when you have faced so many difficulties, to see that occur is a tremendous credit to Sri Lanka.