16 Top Diplomats Appointed During the Rajapaksa Era Called Back Home; Here’s the List..!

-By Sampath Dillemuni

(Lanka-e-News -02.Nov.2024, 9.40 pm) The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to immediately recall 16 diplomats who were appointed to various countries during the previous administration. Investigations revealed these individuals were appointed based on familial and political affiliations rather than merit, prompting this decision.

According to an official statement from the Ministry, notifications have already been issued to these diplomats, and they are expected to return to Sri Lanka soon.

Key officials summoned include:

    1.    Dr. Lalith Chandradhasa - Served as Consul General in Los Angeles, USA.
    2.    Anura Fernando - Served as Consul General in Shanghai, China.
    3.    Dr. D. Venkateshwaran - Served as Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai, India.
    4.    S. M. A. F. Moulana - Served as Consul General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
    5.    Nishan Manik Muthukrishna - Served as Minister at the Embassy in Washington, USA.
    6.    Tharaka Dissanayake - Served as Third Secretary in Washington, USA.
    7.    Seniyara Punchinilame - Served as Third Secretary in the High Commission in London, UK.
    8.    Sahasu Bandara - Served as Third Secretary in the High Commission in Paris, France.
    9.    Vandima Perera - Served as Third Secretary at the Embassy in Rome, Italy.
    10.    Dinuka Fernando Pulle - Served as Third Secretary at the High Commission in Canberra, Australia.
    11.    Pandula de Soysa - Served as Counselor in Moscow, Russia.
    12.    Dr. Anwar Mohammed Hamdani - Served as Minister-Counselor in New Delhi, India.
    13.    Priyangika Dissanayake - Served as Third Secretary in Beirut, Lebanon.
    14.    Yashmin Hilm Mohamed - Served as Second Secretary in Ankara, Turkey.
    15.    Ashwini Hapangama - Served as Counselor in The Hague, Netherlands.
    16.    Janaka Ranatunga - Served as Minister-Counselor in Stockholm, Germany.

The main aim of these recalls is to ensure a more professional and competitive process for diplomatic appointments, prioritizing officials who have passed the foreign service exams and are already serving in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This approach seeks to strengthen Sri Lanka’s international relations by deploying experienced and credible diplomats.

Unaddressed Appointments

However, the Foreign Secretary, Aruni Wijewardene, has yet to act on appointing 20 individuals who passed the competitive foreign service exam. This delay has reportedly forced these qualified candidates to seek the Supreme Court’s intervention.

Additionally, it has been noted that certain career diplomats, not appointed politically, are working in embassies worldwide without fulfilling their diplomatic duties. Instead, they allegedly exploit the diplomatic service for personal benefits, such as educational opportunities for their children, rather than serving the nation’s interests.

Professional Standards Needed

To prevent embassies from becoming mere “vacation spots” for non-performing officials, the Lankan government should appoint capable diplomats and conduct detailed monthly reviews of each embassy or high commission’s operations. This would allow for a more professional diplomatic corps while reducing unnecessary expenditures.

-By Sampath Dillemuni

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by     (2024-11-02 16:18:55)

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