Leader of the SLFP (M) and former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera slammed the government today for messing up the country’s relations with friendly nations and aligning itself with dictatorial regimes which are of no use to this country. Participating in the vote on Account debate, MP Samaraweera said, "By using a heavy handed, thuggish approach towards friendly nations, the government has turned them into foes and undone the high esteem Sri Lanka enjoyed with the international community since its independence in 1948."

The doors of the White House in Washington, Kremlin in Moscow were open to us which is why most government had supported us when we fought against the LTTE," he said.

However, he said that this situation was now changing rapidly as the government was getting close to dictatorial regimes world over.

"The military dictator of Burma is reported to visit Sri Lanka. He is the man who jailed Aung San Sukie, who won a democratic election. He is also to be given a special exposition of the Tooth Relic at the Dalada Maligawa.

He was responsible for the massacre of over 1,000 Buddhist monks in that country," MP Samaraweera said.

He said he had written to the President in 2006, warning of the danger of losing the GSP+ facility, but then, the government had ignored it as well.