The announcement of my diplomatic posting to Australia in December 2010 whilst in Command of the Navy was a surprise and delightful news. President Mahinda Rajapaksa made his vision very clear in one sentence, “bring Australia closer to us - it is important”. This precise directive placed an important element of national interest on my shoulders that motivated me to strategize the course that I should steer to accomplish this task.
I stepped on Australian soil for the first time with immense joy and pride on 04 July 2011 as the High Commissioner designate to Australia concurrently accredited to New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands. Little did I know at the time of having the privilege of working closely with four Australian Prime Ministers whose memories I hold dear to this very day.
At the time a significant challenge faced by Australia was illegal migration. The display of commitment by policy makers at the highest levels of the government in both countries aided swift operational and naval action to successfully curb illegal migration, transnational crime and reduce the loss life at sea. I engaged with the host country’s Prime Minister’s Expert Commission on Asylum Seekers headed by former Chief of Defence Forces and provided evidence and experiences.
The establishment of a joint working group in 2013 gave an ideal platform for both managerial and operational level officials to work in tandem bringing vital arms of safety, security, and defence closer than ever before. While serving my tenure in Australia, Prime Minister Tony Abbott was in Colombo at a luncheon hosted by the Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris where it was decided to establish the defence section in Colombo turning a new chapter in defence relations. Today capitals of both countries are represented by Senior Military (Naval) Attachés.
Limited defence engagements that took place prior to 2011 have since increased by ways of training programs, high-level visits including naval goodwill visits to both countries. The Australian Naval Chief was the first Naval Chief to address the internationally famous Galle Dialogue in 2013 followed by many Naval Chiefs of leading countries in following years.
In addition to establishing a new Counsel General Office in Melbourne in 2013, the 23rd CHOGM hosted by Sri Lanka in November that year were a key milestone during my tenure as High Commissioner. In appreciation to the Australia-Sri Lanka Parliamentary friendship group, Australia, and all heads of states from Pacific Island countries attended the event in Colombo. It was during this visit that Prime Minister Abbott announced the gift of two Bay-class patrol craft to Sri Lanka Navy whilst being on board the flag ship of Sri Lanka Navy in Colombo harbor and addressed foreign media supporting Sri Lanka’s post conflict progress and commending Sri Lanka Navy for its humanitarian efforts.
The “New Colombo Plan” graduate education scholarship, foreign direct investment, narrowing the trade deficit, sports tourism, increase of tourist to Sri Lanka by 20 per cent, increased benefits to Sri Lankan students arriving for studies and public sector training for Sri Lankan government employees are key areas of remarkable achievements. The Australian travel guide, Lonely Planet naming Sri Lanka as one of the top tourist destinations in the world contributed to the increased tourist inflow into post war Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, cricket diplomacy was evident in many instances with the Sri Lankan team participating in Sri Lanka Independence Day celebrations at the High Commission in Canberra in 2012 and when Sri Lanka outnumbered Australian spectators in a one day international at the MCG.
The highlight my tenure as High Commissioner was in 2015 when the Mission was honoured to host Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Hon. Speaker, Cabinet Ministers, Shadow Ministers, Parliamentarians and Heads of Missions at the 67th Sri Lanka Independence Day celebrations.
This relationship based on shared values by two littoral nation-states in the Indian Ocean have stood the test of time and endured for 75 years. Therefore, the 2022 Diamond Jubilee celebrations will give an opportunity to reflect on the past and rededicate to set sights to address modern day challenges by implementing sustainable solutions that would further strengthen the friendship of our people and love for each other’s culture.