“Act as Humans, Not Labels” in Global Politics - Dr. Anil Jayantha In Abu Dhabi

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka is committed to maintaining a balanced and neutral stance amid growing geopolitical competition between global powers such as China and the United States, according to Dr. Anil Jayantha, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development.

Speaking at the World Utilities Congress in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Jayantha emphasized that with a clear strategic vision, securing international funding is no longer a major obstacle.

“If you have a strategy, funding is not a problem anymore,” he said, noting that Sri Lanka has several development programs underway and more in the pipeline, supported by both financial and technical assistance.

He highlighted the importance of aligning foreign funding with local needs, particularly in areas like sustainable water resource management.

Drawing from Sri Lanka’s rich heritage in irrigation, he cited the ancient Yodha Ela canal as an example of sophisticated engineering that modern development efforts should reconnect with. “Our task is to plug this tacit knowledge into current development frameworks,” he added.

On regional tensions, particularly between India and Pakistan, Dr. Jayantha reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s non-aligned foreign policy. “Being a small country, we are not going to be a part of geopolitical clashes,” he said. Instead, Sri Lanka aims to collaborate with all nations while upholding ethical governance and accountability. 

He also called for global unity: “If we can act not as political labels, but as humans, I think the solution at the global level would be found in our near future.”