When you are doing well you will have enough friends hanging around you. In fact they will even become pests. When you are doing not so well they will leave you one by one and even the very close ones who have been with you around the clock will say goodbye. There is also every chance they might turn out to be your enemies too. However, the genuine friends will stand by you at the hour of need come what may.

The United Kingdom which actively got involved in George Bush’s ‘war on terror’ and invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, went to the United Nations against us on our internal issue, to which we are about to see an end. But, they were humiliated by the UN’s rebuff. Now, this is the time to see who our genuine friends are, who stood by us to help the world body do this. They include Russia and China, which are permanent members of the Security Council with veto powers.

At a time when our own Opposition Leader currently visiting Norway has been hostile to us, the action of these four genuine countries who stood with us in the UN should be appreciated by every Sri Lankan whichever party he belongs to. This is the best time for us to recognise our genuine friends.