Sri Lanka, Aug. 20 -- A veteran Sri Lankan diplomat, Ravinatha Aryasinha, has stated that the country has "neglected" middle-power nations, a relationship he believes is crucial for expanding trade, investment, and international influence.

Speaking at the inauguration of the think tank Asian Geopolitics, Sustainability and the Peace Council, the former Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued that Sri Lanka should not solely rely on traditional partners like China, India, and the United States.

"Today, I dare say that Sri Lanka probably is India's best neighbour when you take the totality of the relationships. We have not got into a confrontational course with India is to our credit," Aryasinha said. "But that does not mean t...