Burying the modern hatchet

...by the way

(May 04, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) In diplomacy, opponents sometimes have to shake hands, smile and pretend to admire each other. Here’s one such story. Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is classy, suave and modern, and a seasoned diplomat. During her tenure as High Commissioner in Sri Lanka in 2005, Mahinda Rajapaksa was the new President and the two remained at loggerheads until she left Colombo. She was Ambassador to China for some time and then became Foreign Secretary.

Rajapaksa destroyed the LTTE fiefdom and developed cordial relations with China. He also won the Sri Lanka elections impressively. Nirupama now landed in Colombo with a new status and decisive responsibility. She praised Rajapaksa’s victory and statesmanship before the media, surprising Colombo’s official circles no end. Meanwhile, Rajapaksa remains as warm and receptive towards India as ever – Nirupama or no Nirupama.