Message from the Ambassador of the Kindom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Reynout van Dijk

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Today we celebrate the National Day of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This day is to the honour of the late Queen Juliana, who symbolises the unity of our Nation. The Netherlands plays an important role at many stages. Apart from being one of the founding fathers of the EU, the Netherlands, being a relatively small country, always believed in the advantages of multilateral approaches to solve the problems of today’s world. Sri Lanka is also known as a supporter of a world where power is shared and conflicts are settled through negotiations. Our Nations do hold many values in common indeed. Being both democratic countries and bonded by the same treaties under United Nations Conventions we share basic moral concepts on freedom and the protection of the more vulnerable in this world. In an equal and open relation we have many opportunities to work together in this respect. The relation with Sri Lanka goes back for centuries and Sri Lanka and the Netherlands enjoy diplomatic relations since 1951. Whilst in the past relations between our Nations were mostly defined by a development agenda, today Sri Lanka and the Netherlands have a more common focus on issues that are related to political, cultural and trade issues. I notice with great pleasure that our bilateral trade is developing positively and that the Netherlands are receiving more guests from Sri Lanka. The Netherlands is assisting Sri Lanka with the development of the “Southern Cultural Triangle”. The conservation of our mutual cultural heritance will hopefully result in making the South of Sri Lanka an even more interesting place for tourists. The support of the Netherlands to the Chambers of Commerce in order to stimulate the private sector shows very promising results and it is hoped that the seeds planted will flourish.

Like all good friends of Sri Lanka, the Netherlands are deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict and the toll this conflict takes in all respects. My Government will increase her efforts in bringing relief to the victims of the conflict by increasing substantially her financial contribution to the humanitarian agencies working in Sri Lanka. The time to come might not be one of the easiest for Sri Lanka. It is the hope of my Government that the suffering of all involved in the conflict might end at the soonest. The Netherlands will do her utmost to help whenever possible to ease the plight of many.