Sugeeshwara Gunaratna is an ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to Ethiopia. He resides here. He is also accredited to three countries: Djibouti, South Sudan and Somalia. Of course, he is also representative to the Africa Union. Before coming here, he was in London. And then he came here to Ethiopia from London. He is so excited to be here in Ethiopia. It is his first time in Africa. Excerpts:
Herald: Has the Sri Lanka embassy achieved its missions and objectives since its establishment?
The Sri Lanka embassy was officially opened in February 2017. Of course, the embassy had been functioning before it was properly set up mindful of the fact that Addis is the diplomatic capital of Africa. Sri Lanka has diplomatic relation with 54 African countries.
But we have a mission in Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya and Seychelles. Addis is the place for the Africa as a whole. Almost all African countries have mission in Addis. Here lies the primary purpose for the opening of our embassy in Addis. The other reason is to further strengthen the trade relation between the two countries.
The major investment of Sri Lanka, as a country, is getting involved in the industrial parks of Ethiopia, particularly in Hawassa. It is also actively engaged in other trading fields. And also the embassy has a mission to facilitate trade partnership between the two countries. Since, of course, the embassy has been striving to foster relations as much as possible. But there are still works to be done.
Herald: What supports does the Sri Lanka Embassy envisage to further cement Ethio-Sri Lanka bilateral ties?
If you see Ethio-Sri Lanka, they have a clicking in the non-alien movement. They also show chemistry in multilateral relations. When Africa struggled during the post-colonial period, in apartheid, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka had common legacy.
But from now on, it is important moving to more tangible areas like trade and other fields. For example, we talk between each other on snow or “social politics”. There are about many things we can do. We can conduct academic exchanges; learning from each other on how we can be successful. Ethiopia is one of the successful countries in Africa. Ethiopia has achieved highest economic growth in Africa. We can learn from each other on the best practices for the mutual gain of the two countries.
For instance, Ethiopia has a very tangible diaspora contribution on development work. In this regard, it is a good lesson for us to do on diaspora community. By the same token, Ethiopia can also draw lessons from the activities of Sri Lanka in the sphere of tourism. Sri Lanka is named the best destination sight since 2019. We have an endorsement for Ethiopia on how Sri Lanka built its industries.
Regarding the garment industry, earlier on we were depending on the exportation of raw materials. But now we are involved in value chain too. The garment factories of Sri Lanka are involved in other sectors as well. The Sri Lanka investors come to Ethiopia to invest more. There are many steps to further strengthen Ethio-Sri Lanka relation.
Herald: What kind of tasks does the Sri Lanka embassy in Ethiopia do to benefit members and the community at large?
So, the Sri Lanka community in Ethiopia resides mainly in Hawassa town. Most of them are working in garment factories in the industrial park of Hawassa town. About 600 to 1,000 Sri Lankan people live in Ethiopia. A limited number of them are found in the capital city of Ethiopia. So, our community’s relations are based on the 200 km, in the city of Hawassa from Addis. Therefore, the mission, of course, relates to the practical concept of community connection.
We try to facilitate a movement in and out of the two countries. There is also exchange of various cultural items during the celebration of New Year and on other holiday seasons. Of course, we might be involved in another scenario if it is necessary to accomplish the mission.
Our independence day comes soon this February, then in this national holiday, community members will come together and help us in the decoration of the event through means of preparing sweet food varieties and making available the traditional items for display.
Herald: Are there possible hurdles the Sri Lanka embassy encountered in realizing its goals?
In terms of people-to-people connectivity, of course, one hurdle is the high transportation cost between Ethiopia and Sri Lanka. Now Sri Lanka realizes and discusses with Ethiopian Air Lines for cost sharing arrangement. I think the success will be a huge boost to Sri Lanka’s community.
Herald: Does the Sri Lanka embassy
in Ethiopia have any contribution for the capacity building of the youth and socioeconomic improvement of the Ethiopian community?
I think our companies have betrothed in corporate social responsibility to lead the programs properly. For instance, one of our companies branded as Hela clothing, which is a global apparel manufacturer with the factories across Kenya, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka, was recently awarded the Most Inclusive Employer of the year by the Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD) at the inclusive employers’ forum.
Of course, giving awards for the employers is one of the strategies of empowering workers. This is an important contribution being made and taken as exemplary by the Sri Lanka companies involved in cooperate responsibilities.
Herald: What life essences
do the Sri Lanka people have to share for Ethiopians?
Something I think Ethiopia can learn from Sri Lanka is governmental success. Since our independence, we have highly worked on human resources in the center of Sri Lanka. We have a very important free education program. Until BA or B.Sc level, we provide free education services.
We have also a free-health-care service program. Our literacy rate has reached 92 percent. And our infant mortality rate is downsized to 12 percent. On average our life expectancy has stretched to 72 years. This is credited to the Sri Lanka’s government’s move to invest on people.
That is why we achieve and portray such accomplishments. We have a very flexible work force. The Sri Lanka people move to other countries for mutual benefits gaining rendering services. Of course, in terms of product exportation, like Ethiopia Sir Lanka produce and supply the best coffee to the world. Sri Lanka is also producing the best tea in the world. We also produce coconut. But, garment is the very important product of Sri Lanka. It is atop the exportation list of Sri Lanka’s products today.
When it comes to trouble, Sir Lanka has also shared different difficulties and conflicts like Ethiopia has nowadays. In the time of conflict, it is very difficult to manage industries in a country.
Herald: What are the main reasons behind Sri Lanka’s not yet actively getting involved in the Horn of Africa? Is it because of external influences of other competitive countries?
It is not because of buckling to external influences.
We have a strong trade relation with Africa. More than 466 million USD investments had been channeled to Africa. So, in terms of our total trade, that is considered as 2 percent. Of course, Sri Lanka has exported goods to other countries of Europe, North America, Australia, among others. Those have been the main markets of Sri Lanka.
The Middle East is also one of the markets of Sri Lanka. Pertaining to trade with Ethiopia, the total trade had surpassed the 20 million USD mark in 2014. But in 2018, it shot up to 50 million USD. In 5 years’ time, it has increased by three fold. That exhibits we have a strong trade relation. We have a plan to further bolster the trade relation of the two countries.
Herald: Is there any neck-to-neck competition among Asian countries in the industries zone of Ethiopia?
Supposedly, there is some degree of competition among Asian and other countries. Sri Lanka has the motto that has been entitled Sri Lanka is a center of garment without guilt. There is no child labor and as well as climate pollution.
There is a belief on acting in an environmental friendly manner. Nowadays, Sri Lanka garment factories have graduated into value-added products. Producing products for the mass market is not our concern. We can come up with sport wearing items. Since Sri Lanka graduated legally by its own mission, it does beliefs on that necessary is demanded.
Herald: Does the embassy have any relationship with Ethiopia in the level of political signal and think-thank groups?
Sri Lanka government has expressed its readiness to revitalize Africa’s policy. It aims to enhance the political engagement between the countries of Africa. Within that particular context, we have bilateral consultation between Sri Lanka and Egypt.
We have also ongoing consultation with South Africa. In time, I hope Ethiopia and Sri Lanka will come up with forums for political consultation. We could hold bilateral political consultation, periodically, every year or one or two years. To do that, we have to enhance broadly in other areas as well.
Of course, at the moment, we do not have any relations in terms of think-thank groups. I hope it will be actualize soon. There is a relation on international studies and researches on specific areas. In this regard, Ethiopia has the Foreign Service Academy. We have work to progress in the international studies at the moment.
Herald: What do you think about in the investment engagement of innovation and technology sections?
There are potential areas of providing electricity and electronics products to Ethiopia. We have certain manufacturers who are present in 6 continents. We have officers in Dubai. We are also doing business in Kenya, Mauritius, among others. There are about much to do here in Ethiopia like facilitating electrical features.
We have tasks to do in construction field as well. In the information technology field, there are other countries that already got involved in this sub-sector in Africa. A Sri Lanka company entitled millennium ID is just to mention one.
There are 39 stocks throughout the world. So, that is the list to do and a potential to do something through using minimum ID format. Scisco labs, is agro-business firm in US. It is run by Sri Lanka professionals.
Hence, there are many opportunities of technological field in the country of Sri Lanka. These are the innovative areas of opportunity to investment here in Ethiopia. Many are the opportunities for Sri Lanka to contribute its share for the development of Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition 12 January 2020
BY MEHARI BEYENE
