Everyone needs to think about how the countries that were far more oppressed than Sri Lanka and had less facilities were able to develop faster, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardane said. In his New Year Message, the minister said the country should take examples of the political, social and economic changes that have taken place in these countries. He said pure Theravada Buddhism is a valuable guide for the development of Sri Lanka. “However, it is time now for us to look back to see whether we have paid full attention to do that,” he said. The minister further said, “It is our responsibility in the New Year 2021 to work together as Sri Lankans shedding all differences to safeguard the dignity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka while maintaining ‘Kalyana Mithra’ friendly relations with all countries of the world “The Policy Statement ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ and the Non-Aligned Friendly Foreign Policy of the Government will help make Sri Lanka a great nation in the world. “We will all work towards these goals in this New Year to protect our motherland as a sovereign state and exemplary to the future generations.”