US Secretary of State Pompeo visited Sri Lanka and met with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya, Foreign Minister Gunawardena and other Sri Lankan officials. At the press conference after the meeting, Gunawadner said that Sri Lanka will always maintain a neutral foreign policy.
According to a report by the Sri Lankan media Colombo Gazette, Gunawardena said at the press conference that Sri Lanka will continue to maintain a neutral, friendly and non-aligned foreign policy and recognize all the opportunities and responsibilities brought about by Sri Lanka’s strategic position.
“We believe that all countries must respect international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” Gunawardene said.
It was previously reported that before Pompeo arrived in Sri Lanka, members of the Sri Lankan political party People’s Liberation Front had gathered outside the US Embassy in Colombo on the 27th to oppose his visit.
The Spokesperson of the People’s Liberation Front issued a statement that day, strongly protesting and condemning the US government’s intervention in Sri Lanka’s independence and sovereignty.
The statement believes that Pompeo’s visit has nothing to do with the US Assistant Secretary of State Thompson’s statement on the 22nd that he “committed to building a strong, independent and democratic Sri Lanka”.
