Amunugama offers olive branch to EU!

Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation Dr. Sarath Amunugama yesterday ventured to offer an olive branch to the European Union.

During his address as Chief Guest at the inauguration of a two day workshop on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by the Sri Lanka Bank’s Association (SLBA), Financial Architects and Providence Networks and Solutions, at which ceremony Secretary General of the European Banking Federation, Guido Ravoet was also present, Dr. Amunugama said the EU should put aside the ‘pre war prejudices’ and find harmony through financial linkages between the two.

Whilst noting he was ‘glad’ to see the EU in Colombo the Senior Minister acknowledge that the two parties — EU and Sri Lanka — have not had the best of relations in the recent past.

“They (EU) have had their own problems. But I believe that EU should look at us in a more financial light as it is one of Sri Lanka’s largest trading partners,” he said.

“Forget the political misunderstandings and lack of contemporary knowledge and form, on people to people level linkages, on a note of upbeat positivism,” Dr. Amunugama added.