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Govt. justifies political appointments in SL missions

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19 November 2015 03:01 pm - 21     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Though the new government recalled all politically appointed heads and senior officials of Sri Lankan missions overseas back to the country, the government had not said it would not make political appointments in the future, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Responding to a question that eight out of the new 13 Sri Lankan heads of missions appointed by the Ministry were political appointments, Ministry Spokesperson Mahishini Colonne said the government had never said that no further political appointments would be made.      

“We have to resort to suitable and senior officials who didn’t belong to the Foreign Service to serve in Sri Lankan missions overseas as the Ministry doesn’t have a sufficient number of senior officials to both serve in the ministry and embassies at a given time. Therefore, we have to balance that void. Appointing officials out of the Foreign Service is not something new and practice only in Sri Lanka. Even the US does that,” she told a news conference.

The Ministry today announced the names of 13 heads of missions appointed to Sri Lankan embassies and high commissions overseas.  Accordingly, new ambassadors were appointed to Austria, China, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Myanmar, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. Mr. Wadiwel Krishnamurthi was appointed as the Deputy High Commissioner to Shanghai.

Former Minister Dr. Karunasena Kodithuwakku was appointed ambassador to China, Darshana Perera to Indonesia and Priyani Wijesekara to Austria.  

D.S.L. Pelpola was appointed as the Ambassador to Italy, A.L.M. Lafeer to Jordan, K.W.M.D. Karunaratne to Myanmar, A.M. Thaseem to Saudi Arabia, Sunil De Silva to South Africa, S.J. Mohideen to UAE, M.S. Anwar to Palestine, Nimal Weeraratna to Singapore and C.M. Anzar to Turkey. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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  Comments - 21

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  • Cheers Friday, 20 November 2015 01:12 AM

    Disgraceful to the entire foreign policy

    Dan Friday, 20 November 2015 03:07 PM

    he he you need some rhetoric if you are to defeat a war winning president. dont take everything they said seriously

    Nimal Friday, 20 November 2015 03:05 PM

    Sapu keep your lies to a certain extent without been a joker

    Chandra Friday, 20 November 2015 01:58 PM

    Yet another addition to the blatant contradictions of a bungled govt.

    Chanaka Friday, 20 November 2015 01:27 PM

    Where is the 80% Foreign service ambassadors promised by the govt?

    Thinker Friday, 20 November 2015 12:48 PM

    I believe this is correct being Muslims know more about Islamic countries. Just as Buddhists will know more about Myanmar and China. Just as Karunaratne is the Ambassador for China!

    Johann Tisseverasinghe Friday, 20 November 2015 12:37 PM

    The site has more advertisements than news. It was getting bad now its worse.

    sene Friday, 20 November 2015 12:19 PM

    Most of them are well reputed although they are not from foreign service

    sumanadasa Friday, 20 November 2015 12:17 PM

    If a practice pursued by the government in power is not acceptable to a political party when it was in opposition, how come that same practice be acceptable when the same opposition came to power?

    Eds Friday, 20 November 2015 12:08 PM

    What a joke this government has become in a mere 11 months!

    sach Friday, 20 November 2015 11:37 AM

    no brain that is why

    chimpa Thursday, 19 November 2015 09:58 PM

    When there is the so called foreign service, it is not fair by the service officers of depriving them of their positions. Also there were many criticisms when the previous government appointed such personal. It looks all are same,

    sdk20 Friday, 20 November 2015 12:47 AM

    hora palanaya will have all Arjuna Ranatungas relatives and friends in the Ports very soon

    TONY Thursday, 19 November 2015 11:11 PM

    UK POST STILL VACANT. ARE THEY LOOKING FOR A SPORTSPERSON OR AN ARMY OFFICER????

    TONY Thursday, 19 November 2015 11:10 PM

    THERE IS NO NEED TO JUSTIFY POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS, BUT WHO WILL JUSTIFY YOUR CRITICISM OF PREVIOUS REGIME AND RECALLED SEVERAL POLITICALLY APPOINTED DPL. WHY NOT SEND WIMAL W ABROAD

    Sarath Thursday, 19 November 2015 10:42 PM

    During the J.R. Jayointed to European countries and all these Tamil Ambassadors were LTTE supporters. Now , middle east 95% Muslim Sri Lankan Ambassadors. Are USA, UK, AUSTRALIA and other European countries appointed any Muslim Ambassadors to Middle East Countries? Even India also not appointed Muslims Ambassadors to any middle east country.

    poraa Thursday, 19 November 2015 10:41 PM

    Yes US does that ..we will follow US ......god bless sri lanka

    Sapu Thursday, 19 November 2015 10:19 PM

    Its only 8 out of 13 and the time when every ambassedor is a relative of MR has ended

    Sapu Thursday, 19 November 2015 10:18 PM

    I agree that we lack enough diplomats but why not offer to Chris Nonis ,K.Godage and other ex-diplomats?

    Goats of Sobitha Thursday, 19 November 2015 10:09 PM

    Sri Lankan were cheated by the yahapalana bunch in to the zero level. No body knows what happend to Rev. Sobitha too

    Rohan Fernando Thursday, 19 November 2015 10:05 PM

    Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku is an experienced Diplomat with previously being the Ambassador to Japan as well as the well respected Cabinet Minister of Education. I think appointments such as these are the best choices in Yahapanaya so far for an Embassy as important as China.


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