The Ambassadors’ Forum will be holding an international Webinar in London, on September 5 2021 based on two books published by them recently. The two books are The Geneva Crisis: The Way Forward and the Port City Colombo and International Financial Centre.
The speakers are Mohan Peiris, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York and former Chief Justice, Ambassador D. Laksiri Mendis, former Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, General Daya Ratnayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Industries, Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Senior Consultant CINEC Campus, former Commander of the Navy, Prof. Prathiba Mahanamahewa, former Commissioner, Human Rights Commission, Deshabandu Prof. Jeeva Niriella, Professor, Department of Public and International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, Ambassador Godfrey Cooray, Ambassador to Norway, Iceland and Finland, Dr. Neville Hewage, Ph.D. Laurentian University, Canada, Prasantha Lal De Alwis, President Counsel Sri Lanka, Amal Abeywardena, Executive Director, Conservative Friends of Sri Lanka, UK, Saliya Wickramasuriya, member of Colombo Port City, Economic Commission, Dr. Asanga Gunawansa, Chairman, Sri Lanka International Arbitration Centre and head of Colombo Law Alliance, Counsel General Goonawardena, former Sri Lankan Counsel General for Western States of the USA, Yamuna Jayaratne, Director Sales and Marketing of the CHEC Port City project, Frances Bulathsinghala, journalist/policy analyst and entrepreneur working on national reconciliation/nation building projects through national Heritage concepts.
The sessions will be moderated by the following panel: Sarath Wijesinghe, PC, former Ambassador to the UAE and Israel and President of the Ambassador’s Forum, Jayaraj Palihawadana, Soliciter UK, Convener, London Initiative, Daminda KG Goonetillake, Solicitor UK, General Secretary ASLLUK, Kumudu Amaradasa, Solicitor, UK and Amila Wijesinghe, (LLB Hons), LLM (Merit), BPTC. The event is jointly organised by the Ambassador’s Forum London Initiative and the Ontario Centre for Policy Research.
Altogether, Ambassadors’ Forum has published five books on Foreign Policy Perspectives, with the participation of experts in the relevant field.
The Geneva Crisis: The Way Forward deals with the implementation of the Geneva Resolution 30/1 and interconnected issues. The book on Geneva Crisis makes an attempt to resolve this crisis in a manner acceptable to all Member States in the Human Rights Council.
The book contains 28 chapters and each chapter deals with some aspect relating to the implementation process. These chapters are written by former ambassadors, politicians, professors, academics, civil servants, and professionals. They provide diverse viewpoints on the Geneva Resolution and the draft Report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
They also provide solutions to dilemmas associated with the implementation process. It is a ‘’good read’’ for all those who are involved in the implementation process or interested in the ramifications of the Geneva Resolutions.
In dealing with the Geneva Resolution 30/1, it is paramount importance to consider whether various provisions of the Resolutions violate article 2(7) of the UN Charter. It is also important to consider whether the Resolution is in line with article 46 of the Vienna Convention of the Law of Treatises or it offends internal rule of fundamental importance pertaining to the Sri Lankan Constitution. Several articles of this book provide a wealth of information and divergent viewpoints to assist those who are involved in the Geneva Process.
Among the contributors are the former Foreign Minister who has written on The UN Resolution, the Foreign Secretary two articles on Politically Challenging Dilemmas, Ambassador Dayantha Laksiri Mendis on Implementation of the Geneva Resolution and the Application of International Humanitarian Law at National Level, Ambassador Sarath Wijesinghe on A Friendly Foreign Policy and Geneva Crisis, Ambassador Palitha Kohona on Selective Targeting and on Counter Resolution, Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam on Independent Republic to a Vassal State, Prasanthalal de Alwis on humanitarian Operation, Ambassador Professor Sudarshan Seneviratne on Prism of Fabricated Lies, and articles by Dr. Ivon Amarasinghe, Dr. Laksiri Fernando, Shenali D. Waduge, Dr. Michael Roberts, Dr. Jehan Perera, Prof. Prathiba Mahanamahewa, Dr. Sinharajah Tammita-Delgoda, Keheliya Rambukwella, Janath Wimala and Jayaraj Palihawadena, Dr Kalinga Senawirathne, Frances Bulathsinghala, Rajiv Gunawardena, and Shamindra Ferdinando, on varied topics relating to Geneva Resolutions.
The book on the Port City Colombo was published prior to the enactment of Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021. Hence, it was not possible to analyse the provisions of the aforementioned Act. Nonetheless, it provides a guideline in evaluating various institutions and structures under this Act in a competitive manner by reference to other Port Cities in the world.
The Port City is the biggest investment received by the government. It coincides with the Economic Miracle achieved by the Asian countries. It takes into account the Belt and Road Initiative (BTI). It enhances the strategic position of Sri Lanka to the world and to the United States of America. It also provides an opportunity for all countries to compete and cooperate with each other in a friendly manner in neutral and nonaligned Sri Lanka.
The Port City Act requires extensive Regulations. Unless these Regulations are drafted and the game plan is made clear to prospective investors, it is not likely to take off in the near future. Hence, it is necessary to make such Regulations and clarify the tax position of offshore companies and banks and to prevent money laundering and terrorist funds coming into the port city by adhering to FATF standards.
This book on the Port City contains articles from Ambassador Dayantha Laksiri Mendis on Colombo Financial Centre and the Need to establish an appropriate legal and policy environment, Ambassador Palitha Kohona on belt and road initiative, Professor Sirimal Abeyaratna on connecting the East and West, Deshsbandu Professor Jeeva Niriella on Sustainable Development, General Daya Ratnayaka on Reckoning the opportunities for the future Sri Lanka, Dr Harsha Cabrral PC and Ashara Senaviratne on Future of Sri Lanka learning from past and present setbacks, Chandaka Jayasundara on Establishment of an International Commercial Court in the Port City, Admiral Professior Jayantha Colombage and Admiral Tissara Samarasinghe on The need to adopt a policy to build up trade logistics security and foreign relations, Jeff Goonawardena on New Marina, Laxman Siriwardena on Impact on Sri Lanka Economy, Professor Samitha Hettige on Capital to New East Land, Kassapa Senarath on World class city, Yasuri Ranaraja and Maya Majueran on Belt and Road Initiative and Port city Dr Dilini Pathirana on Foreign and Sri Lankan investment Agreements Rusiripala Tennakoon on History in the Making, Promod de Silva on safe and secure environment, Thilak Silva on Engineer’s Perspective on Port City of Colombo, Navindu Kalansuriya on Effect on Port City of Sri Lanka, Ambassador Sarath Wijesinghe on Securing Sri Lanka’s Interest First, Dinesh Weerakody on Opportunities for emerging markets, Shivanthi Ranasinghe on International Relations for Development, Interview with Gopal Baglay High Commissioner for India by Kalum Bandara Deputy Editor Daily Mirror, Frances Bulathsinghala on Foreign Policy - Sri Lanka First and Deborah-Meg Rumair on Chinese Debt Trap is a Myth.
In conclusion, we wish to say that these two books are of immense value to Sri Lanka in relation to diplomacy and international relations and the way to entice FDI into the Port City to make it a Financial and Maritime Hub in the Asian region.
Sarath Wijesinghe President’s Counsel, Former Ambassador to UAE and Israel, President Ambassadors’ Forum.