AKD in US moots adoption of non-aligned foreign policy

NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake

• Says SL’s main foreign policy goal should be to avoid supporting any foreign powers in conflict
• Suggests it is unavoidable SL becomes embroiled in power struggles among foreign forces
• Stresses SL should build an economy capable of withstanding all political and economic crises occurring globally
• Claims SL cannot overlook India when deciding on political or economic decisions

National People’s Party (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday expressed the view that Sri Lanka should embrace a genuinely non-aligned foreign policy in the present global landscape. 

“Sri Lanka must transition towards a non-aligned foreign policy that does not align with any specific foreign power,” Dissanayake said. 

The NPP leader made these remarks while speaking at an event in Los Angeles as part of his ongoing tour of the US to connect with party supporters and well-wishers. 

“No nation can exist in isolation in today’s interconnected world. Global economies and communication are interlinked, and although not officially declared as wars, many powerful countries are engaged in power struggles with each other such as the conflicts between the US, China, India, Russia and Europe,” he noted. “At present, Sri Lanka lacks the potential to emerge as a global power centre,” he added. 

The MP noted that due to this situation, it is inevitable that Sri Lanka becomes entangled in these power struggles or becomes a victim of them. Dissanayake emphasised that, as a result, Sri Lanka’s primary foreign policy objective should be to refrain from offering direct or indirect support to any of these feuding foreign powers and adopt a non-aligned foreign policy. 

“Whether we like it or not, geographically, we are situated within the Indian power centre. Therefore, we cannot overlook India when deliberating on our political or economic choices,” he said.

“Consequently, we must formulate our economic strategy accordingly. The present economic plan has consistently relied on the same approach since the 1980s, centred on asset sales and acquiring loans. We must make a decisive departure from this course,” he remarked.

The NPP leader said, Sri Lanka should strive to build an economy capable of withstanding all the political and economic crises occurring globally.

Dissanayake is scheduled to visit Boston, Virginia Beach, Washington DC and New York to address Sri Lankans domiciled in the US.