BY SUGEESHWARA GUNARATNA (Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Ethiopia)
Sri Lanka celebrates 73 years of independence from British rule on 04th February this year. The last 73 years of nation building, overcoming the many challenges faced, have today resulted in achievements that Sri Lankans can be justifiably proud of.
The primary achievement among them is a sustained commitment to developing the quality of life and the human resources of the country. Successive governments of Sri Lanka since independence have maintained a policy of providing to its citizens free healthcare and free education until the first University degree.
This sustained commitment to the development of human capital has resulted in Sri Lanka’s social indicators being on par with many developed countries. An adult literacy rate of 96.5%, an infant mortality rate of 6.1 per 1000 live births, a life expectancy of 72 years and a UNDP human development index of 0.782 which puts the country in the category of high human development, are today the fruits of this commitment.
Beginning in 1931, Sri Lanka has also maintained a vibrant democratic tradition with successive governments changing through the ballot making it one of the oldest democratic countries in Asia. Last year, Sri Lanka held Parliamentary elections in August, following up on the Presidential elections in November 2019, electing both a new President and a new Parliament. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the Presidential election with 52.25% of the vote and in the subsequent general election, the people of Sri Lanka gave a landslide mandate for the government winning close to a 2/3rd majority in parliament.
Overcoming the multifaceted challenges, including the global economic meltdown that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic has been the foremost priority of the current government. Sri Lanka’s handling of the pandemic by its health authorities and other associated agencies has come for much praise from world bodies such as the World Health Organization and is a testament to its successful investment in its human resources.
The COVID-19 death rate in Sri Lanka currently remains around 0.5 percent, compared to the global average of 2 percent, with procedures and systems in place for identification of patients, their isolation, treatment as well as contact tracing which are vital ingredients in the response to the pandemic.
These measures have enabled Sri Lanka to open its borders for foreign tourists beginning 21st January and foreign tourists are now once again able to enjoy the scenic beauty of the country while adhering to health guidelines issued by the authorities. Sri Lanka’s attraction as a major tourist destination is due to many facets the country has been blessed with. It is home to 8 UNESCO world heritage sites, 6 cultural and 2 natural.
Its many attractions include pristine beaches, tropical rainforests, cool climes of its hills and the tea plantations, and cultural cities that go back to beyond the 6thCentury BC. Sri Lanka is also one of fewplaces in the world, where the largest land mammal, the elephant, and the largest sea mammal, the blue whale, can be seen within a few miles of each other.
As explained in the national policy document of the government entitled ‘Vistas of prosperity and splendor” Sri Lanka follows a friendly and non-aligned foreign policy that aims to develop its trade and investment relationships with all countries.
Its strategic location along a busy maritime route linking the Middle East, Africa and Europe to East Asia has cemented its role as a trading hub through the centuries.
Diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Sri Lanka were established in 1972. The trading relations in recent times has augmented multifold, expanding from a total turnover of USD 2.6 million in 2015 to a little under USD 40 million in 2020.
It is pertinent to note that this figure has doubled in 2020 (from USD 19 million in 2019) despite the pandemic. Sri Lankan investments in the garment sector in Ethiopia
are today worth over USD 15 million and provide employment opportunities to around 3,000 Ethiopian nationals. Ethiopian Airlines recently became the only African airline to receive Sri Lankan government approval to operate flights into Sri Lanka.
This trading relationship, while being of recent origin, however goes back to ancient times with evidence of Sri Lanka having traded with the Kingdom of Aksum between the 4th and 7th centuries A.D. The Alexandrian monk Cosmas in his book ‘Christian Topography’ written in the 6th century, mentions the extent of Sri Lanka’s maritime trade relationship as follows: “From the whole of India, Persia, and Ethiopia the island, acting as intermediary, welcomes many ships, and likewise dispatches them.” Cosmas ranks Ethiopia among the three most important countries that maintained a steady stream of commerce with Sri Lanka.
It is this historic trading relation that has been rekindled in recent times. As Sri Lanka and Ethiopia approach 50 years of diplomatic relations next year, it is incumbent on both countries to strengthen and foster this longstanding relationship.
The Ethiopian Herald January 30/2021
