Good relations with India will be a cornerstone of the foreign policy of the Sri Lankan government if the United Peoples' Freedom Alliance (UPFA) forms one after winning the August 17 parliamentary elections.

This was stated by Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka, the foreign policy adviser to the UPFA at a meeting with the Foreign Correspondents' Association here on Wednesday.

The UPFA ,whose candidate in the January 8 Presidential election, Mahinda Rajapaksa, was defeated by the Joint Opposition Candidate, Maithripala Sirisena, has "learnt its lessons", Jayatilleka said.

"The foreign policy of the UPFA will be a series of concentric circles, the closest circle being the immediate neighborhood. Specific mention has been made about India in the foreign policy segment of the UPFA manifesto. Good relations with India is axiomatic. Good relations with India will be a corner stone of the UPFA's foreign policy," he stressed.

On relations with other countries, he said: "The first circle in the series of concentric circles will be South Asia; the second will be Asia; the third will be Euro-Asia, the fourth will be the Global South and finally the world."

Asked about concerns in India and the US about China's overwhelming presence in the economy of Sri Lanka thanks to the Rajapaksa regime, Jayatilleka said that Sri Lanka will cultivate relations with China, India and other countries depending upon the economic need.

(The New Indian Express)