Consider us as friends, EU tells Sri Lanka

• Ambassadors of European countries assure support to come out of crisis

Sri Lanka must consider the European Union as a friend, the Ambassadors from the region yesterday emphasised to the Government whilst assuring support to come out of the crisis. 

This pledge was shared by Ambassadors of European countries when they called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 

A statement from the President’s Media said the EU delegation members pointed out that a firm message about the future plans of building the country’s economy will certainly pave the way for the international community to assist Sri Lanka. 

Nearly 90% of the country’s population lives in rural areas and 75% of those people depend on agriculture. The President said that by providing them with the required fertiliser and fuel, many problems as well as the issues related to the supply of food could be solved.

Steps have been taken to provide uncultivated Government lands to those interested in agriculture as a solution to the land issue. 

President Rajapaksa explained the initiatives launched by the Government to provide a lasting solution considering the humanitarian situation that has arisen after the war, as well as the fair manner maintained in the process of enforcing law without any party affiliation and interfering with the Ambassadors.

A number of areas, including investment, tourism and education, were discussed at length.

Delegation of the EU to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Ambassador Denis Chaibi, France Ambassador Eric Lavertu, Italian Ambassador Rita Mannella, Norwegian Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal, Netherlands Ambassador Tanja Gonggrijp, Germany Ambassador Holger Lothar Seubert, Romanian Ambassador Victor Chiujdea, Turkish Ambassador Rakibe Şekercioğlu, and Swiss Ambassador Dominik Furgler attended the meeting with President Rajapaksa. 

Chief of Staff to the President Anura Dissanayake and Admiral Jayanath Colombage were also present.