In the wake of criticism on social media over the way Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath responded to queries during the Raisina Dialogue 2026 summit in India, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the Minister had attended the forum well prepared and with a sound knowledge of international affairs.
Ministry Spokesman Thushara Rodrigo told The Daily Morning yesterday (8) that the Minister, as a seasoned politician, had participated in the forum with a clear understanding of the issues being discussed. He added that the Minister had also been fully updated on the Iranian ship attack that was raised during the event.
Negating the questions raised regarding the preparedness of the Minister and other key figures representing Sri Lanka at international forums, the spokesman said that “before making comments, we need to consider the full context as any criticism should be constructive and substantively strong.”
He further noted that even the Indian Foreign Minister had delivered a similar message at the forum, supporting compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He added that the Foreign Minister of the host country had also taken the same position.
“Therefore, it is important to consider the substance of the message delivered, rather than simply questioning whether it was right or wrong,” he said, noting that the criticism appeared to be a personal attack on the Minister rather than a reflection made with the country’s interests in mind.
Foreign Minister Herath departed for India on the 5th to participate in the Raisina Dialogue 2026 summit, a key platform for discussions on regional security and diplomacy. The summit was also attended by foreign ministers from Bhutan, Cyprus and Mauritius, among others.
The criticism on social media had centred on the Minister’s response to questions regarding the attack on an Iranian naval vessel near Sri Lanka and the country’s handling of the incident. Some commentators questioned the clarity and preparedness of the response given at the forum, prompting debate online about Sri Lanka’s representation at international platforms.