South Africa offers to share constitution making experience

South Africa, with its experience in transforming the country from an apartheid tyranny into a well-functioning democracy, has offered to assist Sri Lanka in making a new constitution.

During a meeting with Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on Thursday, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Geoffrey Doidge has said that his country is keen to play a significant role by sharing their rich experience in constitution making and political transformation.

“We don’t market anything in particular in terms of politics but we have an experience which is very rich. We certainly look forward to share it.”

Welcoming the changes in Sri Lanka, High Commissioner has noted that the changes came at a good time when Sri Lanka needs to move forward. “I think the international community has responded well to changes in Sri Lanka,” he added.

The envoy has appreciated Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe inviting South Africa back to work closely with Sri Lanka after his election.

“We are now working very closely with the Government of Sri Lanka. We feel that through political diplomacy there can be an awareness of Sri Lanka in South Africa. Also through political diplomacy there will be a different perception about Sri Lanka in South Africa-that Sri Lanka is moving away from the conflict it once faced and Sri Lanka is now on a new trajectory, finding peace within itself and peace with international community,” the High Commissioner has remarked. Doidge has said that Sri Lanka’s acceptance back into the international community, post Geneva Resolution, is very obvious-and it augurs well for Sri Lanka to take those opportunities and exploit them in an economic way so that prosperity of Sri Lanka is assured.

During the positive and friendly meeting, High Commissioner Doidge has gifted Minister Bathiudeen with a pocket-book version of the South African constitution, elaborating on the various challenges South Africa faced to make the draft document a reality and invited to read it.

South Africa’s present democratic constitution is a product of the South African Constitutional Assembly, chaired by Cyril Ramaphosa, the present Deputy President of South Africa, who also visited Sri Lanka in 2014 and 2015 as a Special Envoy.

During the meeting, both High Commissioner Doidge and Minister Bathiudeen also delved into deepening of bilateral economic cooperation as well. As for opportunities for investment, the Sri Lankan High Commission in South Africa is very active and strategically placed towards bringing South African business to Sri Lanka, with all committed staff, the High Commissioner assured.