Former foreign affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera in a tweet today said the country must not return to its isolationist & confrontational past. Samaraweera tweeted in response to the Foreign Ministry’s statement yesterday dismissing foreign concerns over the appointment of the new Army Chief. Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva.

"Our foreign policy must not return to the isolationist & confrontational past; the Westphalian mindset can only undo many of the achievements of the past four years." @MFA_SriLanka #lka

— Mangala Samaraweera (@MangalaLK) August 21, 2019

The European Union, USA, Canada and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights this week expressed concerns over the appointment of the new Army Chief quoting serious allegations of gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law against him and his troops during the war.