Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe condemned the recent Israeli airstrikes on Iran, declaring his support for Tehran and expressing regret over Colombo’s failure to speak out despite Iran’s previous assistance to Sri Lanka.
Speaking at an event at office on Flower Road where civil society activist Gayantha Dehiwatte presented him with a copy of his new book “The Alternative Way: The Way Out of the Imperialist Debt Trap,” Wickremesinghe delivered a sharp critique of the government’s foreign policy and strategic direction.
Noting that the world is entering a new era of power shifts, the former President said the influence of the Western front led by the United States, is diminishing, while countries like China and Russia are asserting themselves as alternative power centres.
In this context, he urged policymakers to deepen ties with India, citing its USD 4 trillion in foreign reserves and strategic regional presence.
Wickremesinghe warned that Sri Lanka may face significant economic turbulence in the near future, driven by intensifying global instability, and cautioned that such pressures could even trigger a shift in domestic political power.
He also made veiled remarks about the current Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, calling him “the heartbeat of the Opposition,” and emphasised the importance of safeguarding key public servants during an increasingly volatile period for the country.
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