War in ME would deal heavy blow to SL's economy

SRI Lanka yesterday urged Israel and Iran to engage in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka said it is deeply concerned by the recent developments between Israel and Iran and urged both countries to exercise restraint, engage in dialogue and pursue diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate the tense situation.

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The Ministry added that the Sri Lanka Missions in both countries are closely monitoring the situation and remain in contact with the Sri Lankan nationals in the respective countries.

Sri Lanka is not alone in urging for restraint as a widening war in the Middle East would reverberate across the world and for countries such as Sri Lanka, which are still struggling economically, the impact would be devastating.

Sri Lanka has had friendly ties with Iran for decades with strong economic and cultural ties and while Sri Lanka's relations with Israel are newer, they have grown closer over the years and thousands of Lankans are now employed in Israel while many of its nationals choose Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. Hence Sri Lanka's concerns over the situation are understandable given that rising oil prices will impact the country badly while loss of employment will also be a concern.