Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath updated the Colombo-based diplomatic corps on the government’s progress and outlined future plans during an interactive session at the Foreign Ministry this morning.
The foreign minister said that the government is making significant progress on its debt restructuring process, paving the way for the third review under the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
Under the NPP government stabilization measures will be aligned with efforts to improve the living standards of citizens and ease economic burdens, Minister Herath said.
“We are committed to ensuring that economic growth is truly inclusive, which will at the same time drive growth and investment, with the confidence of our private sector and business community,” Herath said addressing the diplomatic community.
The foreign minister also highlighted that the administration’s focus on ethical governance, combating corruption, and ensuring accountability, stating that economic success must align with these values.
Briefing the diplomats on several important developments, Herath said that Sri Lanka has also applied for membership in BRICS and the New Development Bank (NDB).
However, Herath said that the president and foreign minister will not attend the BRICS Outreach Summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 23-24, due to the upcoming elections. Instead, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs will represent Sri Lanka and formally submit the membership request, he said.
Addressing human rights matters, the foreign minister reiterated the government’s opposition to the recent UN resolution establishing an external mechanism to investigate rights issues. Despite rejecting the resolution, Sri Lanka will continue constructive engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, the Foreign Minister said.
The foreign minister also announced that the Council of Ministers meeting ofthe Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) under Sri Lanka’s chairmanship will be postponed due to the forthcoming elections. New dates to be set in consultation with IORA members and the Secretariat, the Foreign Minister. (Newswire)