LKI hosts the Foreign Minister of Poland at a Round Table Discussion

June 2, 2025    Reading Time: < 1 minute

Reading Time: < 1 min read

The LKI hosted a Round Table Discussion on 28 May 2025 with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland H.E. Radoslaw Sikorski. The Minister was on a visit to Sri Lanka representing Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.

Hon Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Employment and Hon Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, represented the government at the event. It also brought together the Ambassador of the EU Carmen Moreno, opposition parliamentarians Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva and Hon. Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, former member of the European Parliament Nirj Deva, Ambassadors/diplomats from EU countries, the UN Resident Coordinator, retired Ambassadors, senior government officials, and leading economists.

Following opening remarks by the Executive Director/LKI Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha which highlighted the EU-Sri Lanka partnership, Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra underscored that in Sri Lanka, the government was committed to building a modern state – where laws protect, institutions serve with integrity, and every citizen enjoys equal access to justice, opportunity, and public services. This transformation is not merely about reform—it is about upholding transparency, strengthening the rule of law, safeguarding people’s liberties, and ensuring that law enforcement is fair, professional, and people-friendly.

Addressing the Round Table under the theme ‘Pathways to Transformation: Poland, from Reform to Success’, the Polish Foreign Minister highlighted Poland’s journey of economic transformation, emphasizing how it was shaped by strong partnerships and a commitment to shared values such as democracy, inclusivity, and social protection. The lively discussion that followed moderated by Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, Professorial Fellow, Gateway House, underscored a shared commitment to inclusive dialogue and policy-driven cooperation at a crucial juncture in Sri Lanka’s journey forward.