Seeking India’s “proactive” support at the UN Human Rights Council, where a resolution on Sri Lanka will be soon put to vote, Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage has said India cannot abandon Sri Lanka. “If the world is one family, as your Foreign Minister has said, then we are immediate family, isn’t it”, the Foreign Secretary said citing External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s reference to ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ in his recent address to the Council. The Foreign Secretary, spoke to The Hindu on Sri Lanka’s prospects at the ongoing session in Geneva, Indo-Lanka relations, Sri Lanka’s broader foreign policy choices, and strategy for reconciliation from “within”, and regional cooperation. Sri Lanka, Colombage said, would be “very uncomfortable” if countries in the region did not extend support in Geneva. Because we are very conscious of South Asian solidarity,” he said, adding: “Sri Lanka is in dire need of support from our friendly neighbours.

Source: The Nation February 27, 2021 04:41 UTC