Focus on Africa yielding tangible results

Cabinet nod for diplomatic ties with 15 African countries:

Fifteen countries

Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’ Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Sierra Leone, Togo

The government’s focus on enhancing relations with countries in the African continent is bringing tangible results. In a comprehensive review of foreign policy, the government decided that current priorities need to be reflected in greater attention being paid to the country’s relations with regions which had been comparatively neglected over the decades.

This is now amply reciprocated by countries in the African region which are engaging vigorously with Sri Lanka, especially in matters relating to investment, trade, tourism and other economic issues. President of the Republic of Seychelles James Alix Michel was due to arrive in the country yesterday.

This was preceded by a visit to Sri Lanka two months ago by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Seychelles Jean-Paul Adam. Extensive co-operation will take place between the two countries in the fields of fisheries, maritime security, boat building, tourism and hydro-power. President Alix Michel will have bilateral discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa today.

Arrangements are now being made for the opening of a Resident Mission of Nigeria in Colombo very shortly. Nigeria’s High Commissioner designate to Sri Lanka, Oyebola Kuku arrived here recently and met senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs with a view to finalizing logistical arrangements for the establishment of the Mission. Nigeria, with a population of 160 million, is one of the strongest economies in Africa. A Sri Lankan Mission will be opened in Abuja, Nigeria, this year.

Two months ago, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal by External Affairs Minister, Professor G.L. Peiris for the establishment of diplomatic relations with fifteen countries in Africa. The countries are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’ Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Sierra Leone and Togo. A delegation from South Africa was in Colombo last week.

This delegation was led by South Africa’s Deputy Minister for International Cooperation Ebrahim Ebrahim and Roelff Meyer, former Minister of Defence and later Minister of Constitutional Affairs under President Nelson Mandela.

The purpose of this visit was to exchange insights and experiences in a continuing time-frame. There have been many such visits between Sri Lanka and South Africa in recent years.

It is entirely incorrect that there was any reference to mediation or facilitation by the South African delegation. Mediation or facilitation, in any form, was neither offered by South Africa, nor suggested or accepted by Sri Lanka. This subject formed no part of their discussion with the government, and speculation to the contrary is totally without foundation. South Africa, with its considerable influence in international fora, maintains a friendly and fruitful dialogue with Sri Lanka, based on the experiences and challenges in both countries.