Colombo: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that his country does not want to get caught up between powerful nations.
He made the remarks while addressing the second session of the ninth Parliament, during which he also presented his government’s policy statement.
“While giving priority to the country’s sovereignty and independence we are ready to respond positively to the international observations. We are an independent and sovereign nation. We do not want to get caught up between the powerful nations,” President Rajapaksas said.
“While we respect our neighbors what we need is to maintain a friendly and cordial relationship with every nation.”
President Rajapaksa’s remarks came in the backdrop where opposition parties and critics have complained that amidst the ongoing financial crisis, his government has been selling its lands and resources to powerful countries like China, India, and the US and making the island-nation a hunting ground for superpowers.
During his hour-long speech, President Rajapaksa also invited the representatives of the minority Tamil and Muslim political parties from the North and the East to join him in promoting the lives of the people ravaged by the three-decades-long Civil War.
