BY EDWARD THEOPHILUS

It is surprising to Sri Lankans living in the country and overseas that Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena handled the withdrawal from the Co-Sponsorship of UNHCR resolution.  It seemed that many countries respected the views expressed by Minister Gunawardena who showed the nature of real Sri Lankan and educated personnel. There were different types of foreign ministers in Sri Lanka from Mr.J.R. Jayewardene to Mr. Gunawardena. I feel that Mr. Gunawardena has excellent knowledge and stewardship skills to handle the ministry and complicated affairs in modern international relations. Many cataplana supporters in the country and overseas thought that the government has no people capable of handling foreign affairs with a good command in English and Mr. Gunawardena showed he is excellent in both languages Sinhala and English, which is needed to give priority in education.

The promoting accountability and protecting human rights within the constitutional framework are the responsibility of any government elected to the office and there is no evidence that any government elected after the independence breach this responsibility.  The UNHRC resolution was sponsored by the USA without proper investigation in Sri Lanka and it was bias towards certain groups.

I heard Mr. Gunawardena studied foreign trade at the tertiary level and he showed the nature of an educated practical person.  I saw many Sri Lanka’s born people saying they don’t know Sinhala but the truth is they neither know Sinhala nor English.  Mr. Gunawardena is the best model to those people.  

Mr. Gunawardena demonstrated stewardship handling the Swiss Embassy case too.  He is a good strength to Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

There is no doubt that Mr. Gunawardena was supported by Dr. Ravinath Ariyasinghe and his team.