The Sri Lanka Embassy participated in the Embassy Series of the World Affairs Council of Washington DC, on March 3, 2008.

Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke addressed around fifty members of the Council at the Embassy, on the history and culture of Sri Lanka and on why the U.S. should be interested in a country like Sri Lanka. Dwelling on this perspective, the Ambassador spoke on US-Sri Lanka relations, bilateral political relations, US-Sri Lanka trade and investment relations, Sri Lanka’s foreign policy goals and the challenges faced by Asian countries today.

As the Ambassador said, the biggest foreign policy challenge, not only for Sri Lanka and Asia, but for the whole world, is overcoming terrorism. “Our pleas were not heard for a long time, but now there is focus, and we appreciate that,” said the Ambassador. Another aspect of international terrorism, as Ambassador noted, is the modern day transportation, communication and the ability to move funds across borders swiftly, which is of immense benefit to terrorists. Sri Lanka’s involvement in fighting terrorism extends beyond the country’s borders, as Ambassador said, with chairing the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee on Terrorism and helping to draft international conventions to combat international terrorism.

Sri Lanka’s other foreign policy goals include active participation in the non-aligned movement, regional groupings such as the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and promotion of UN Peacekeeping operations and free trade agreements.

The address was followed by a lively discussion with the Council members, many of who had a substantial knowledge of Sri Lanka.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington DC
USA

06 March 2008