Posted on February 28th, 2021 KAMALIKA PIERIS Bandaranaike had advocated an independent foreign policy for Sri Lanka long before he became Prime Minister. In 1952, Bandaranaike speaking in Parliament during the debate on the Throne speech said that Sri Lanka has so far failed to formulate a well defined and independent foreign policy. Sri Lanka should play an important and constructive role in international affairs. She should be neutral in power politics. Sri Lanka should occupy a position in South Asia like that of Switzerland in Europe, he said. In 1954, Bandaranaike persuaded Sri Lanka Parliament to approve Panchaseela. The Panchaseela policy advocated (i) mutual respect for each other’s territory and