A Sri Lankan Minister has warned the United States that Sri Lanka would join international allies and align itself against the US, if they were to continue to push Sri Lanka “to extremes”.
Referring to a resolution put forward by the US at the UN Human Rights Council, Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka said,
"There are friends as well as enemies of the United States. We are ready to join the anti-U.S. allies if it is for forcing us to extremes."
His remarks came as Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha stated that Sri Lanka had appealed to the US for exemptions from its sanctions on Iran, upon which the country almost completely relies on for oil.
Premajayantha said that the request was made when US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Treasury, Luke Bronin and Petroleum Ministry Secretary R.H.S. Samaratunga, met early last month, noting that it may not be granted and the government was seeking alternative options.
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