THE hangover from Sri Lanka’s recent Geneva debacle continued to give the government headaches for yet another week. A two-day parliamentary debate demanded by the opposition saw accusations being made against the government’s mishandling of the country’s foreign policy. Clearly, the government is embarrassed over its own incompetence. So much so that the Minister of External Affairs is now suggesting that Sri Lanka re-evaluate its overseas representation. All well and good; but a glimpse of the way he was thinking betrayed his mindset.

…He said that a new mission should be opened in Azerbaijan because when he went there he found there was a great interest in Sri Lankan blue sapphires there. …Is this the criteria to open a mission overseas? The hysterical attacks on the US and the West continued unabated from the government ranks during the debate. …Fifty per cent of Sri Lanka’s trade is with these countries, and the bulk of tourists visiting this country still come from these parts of the world. Unfortunately, there was no mention by the government of the exciting new world grouping called Brics…. They are the competitors to the G8…. Last week, Brics leaders met in New Delhi and called for reforms in the management of the global economy.

…How far Brics will succeed is yet to be seen. Instead of making puerile statements in parliament and outside, the government would serve the country better by studying these new coalitions developing around the world…. While the country would be politically more in tune with Brics rather the US-Europe alliance … the government must know that all Brics members trade and do business with the US and Europe. …Sri Lanka must abandon its chest-thumping rhetorical war cries against the US and Europe, even though this may be for domestic political purposes, and learn a lesson from Brics of how to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. … —(April 9)