12 July 2019 12:02 am
Present and former Govts appointed unqualified officials as diplomats
By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday alleged that the government had appointed A/L qualified personnel, who had no experience in the Foreign Service, as Ambassadors and High Commissioners to some important countries such as Britain similar to what happened during the previous regime.
He told parliament that personnel such as Udayanga Weeratunge and Jaliya Wickramasuriya were appointed as diplomats without qualifications by the previous government while the present government had appointed Chamari Wijewardane who did not have the required qualifications as High Commissioner to Britain.
The MP said it was important that officers with experience and qualifications be appointed to the Foreign Service especially to countries like Britain, the United States, Japan, Switzerland, Australia China and India which were diplomatically important to Sri Lanka.
“The government is making political appointments to these important countries and appointed qualified and experienced officers to countries of lesser importance” he said.
The MP said even the graduates who were appointed as diplomats were not graduates of the foreign services and requested the government to send qualified and experienced officers as diplomats.
The government is making political appointments to these important countries and appointed qualified and experienced officers to countries of lesser importance