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Sabry defends Bogollagama’s nomination

24 June 2023 03:42 pm - 37     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Foreign Minister Ali Sabry defended the nomination of former Minister Rohitha Bogollagama as Sri Lanka’s next envoy to the UK. 

He said that Bogollagama’s nomination was well thought out and was taken following discussions between himself and President Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

Speaking to Daily Mirror ‘On Fire’, Sabry said that Bogollagama was nominated to the post taking into consideration his former role as Foreign Minister. 

Sabry said that Bogollagama’s former post will be handy in a station like London. 

He said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe had discussed the matter with him before it was decided to nominate Bogollagama to the post in the UK. 

“It was a well thought out decision,” Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said. 

The Minister also said that Sri Lanka’s Foreign Service lacks officers to man all the stations, as a result of which it needs others to be appointed to key posts. 

He also defended the political appointments made to overseas missions saying most of them have delivered. (Easwaran Rutnam)


  Comments - 37

  • Suha Saturday, 24 June 2023 03:59 PM

    Aiyooo mister minister ,,he hadnt done anything to this country during his tenure as foreign minister and im sure he will not do anything in this time too

    joshua Saturday, 24 June 2023 04:42 PM

    Appoint all unsuitable fellows and then get somebody to justify it. This is how SL politics work. It really stinks

    Love lK Saturday, 24 June 2023 04:56 PM

    All what we need is to appoint some qualified people for all these posts? It is in the national interest of this country to send the best diplomates who understand the national interest well...now diplomacy is a business minded professionals ... countries use this profession to make money ; to sell their national products; to bargain in trade negotiations; to send their nationally qualified professionals ( high skills migration;) to look forward to get opportunities and chances to benefit to our country through all means and tools...in short to get maximum benefit out of diplomatic missions to serve our interests not to sell out our interest as it has been happening recently ..I don't think we could have been trapped in this debt had we had some good diplomates people to advise our politicians to make some touch decisions on development programs

    Prakash Saturday, 24 June 2023 04:56 PM

    Well, when things go wrong you will come out to say I was under pressure and had sleepless nights. Atleast now wake up from your sleep

    Prakash Saturday, 24 June 2023 04:56 PM

    Well, when things go wrong you will come out to say I was under pressure and had sleepless nights. Atleast now wake up from your sleep

    Concerned Citizen Saturday, 24 June 2023 05:03 PM

    A corrupted person will always defend another corrupted one !

    Wast of time Saturday, 24 June 2023 05:16 PM

    Hello Sabri, you have no choice other than support the appointment. there are more sleeping executives are around Sri Lanka.

    Voter Saturday, 24 June 2023 05:30 PM

    Sabry defends everything and later he’ll say I had sleepless nights when I think of it…..what a waste of public fund?

    ACA Saturday, 24 June 2023 05:34 PM

    We always take well thought out decisions to appoint useless.

    Roger Halliday Saturday, 24 June 2023 06:15 PM

    Mr Minister what is the criteria to serve in the foreign service. This appointment maybe ok as we've seen actors jokers and guys who even who couldn't communicate been sent to represent sri lanka. One example is police dept retiree who couldn't even keep awake at the independence celebration

    ANNECUNT Saturday, 24 June 2023 06:21 PM

    HOW ABOUT WIMAL WEERAWANSA THEN BUT DEFINETLY NO THE PETROL PUMP BOYS FROM AMERICA

    You scratch my back Saturday, 24 June 2023 07:04 PM

    So it was ok for him to misuse tax payers money whenever the time was right. How can we expect a better country, better society when higher authorities keep whitewashing crooks?

    Flatulus Silva Saturday, 24 June 2023 07:27 PM

    Why not! All the government decisions are "well thought out". Surprisingly, not in the best interest of public.

    Buddhist Saturday, 24 June 2023 07:33 PM

    Why was Bogollagama kicked out form his earlier appointment? What are the bribery charges that were there against Bogollagama in the past? Is it because Bogollagama funded Ranil and UNP in the past he got this position, or is it because being the Ambassador he can siphon funds and pump them into the UNP election fund?

    Know All Saturday, 24 June 2023 07:57 PM

    It looks his only qualification was that he was a Foreign Minister. That is no real qualification as that itself is a political appointment and not on personal merit, but those who have served in the Foreign Ministry are far far more qualified.

    Kps Saturday, 24 June 2023 08:27 PM

    When will have the real system change.?

    Kps Saturday, 24 June 2023 08:29 PM

    Always political appointees and appointments. What’s wrong with our heads of the government.

    Gaston Saturday, 24 June 2023 09:13 PM

    Of course, Bogollagama will man all the stations with all of his siblings installed at other diplomatic operational locations.

    Bob Saturday, 24 June 2023 09:14 PM

    quote , Most of them have delivered - yes we saw how ASP Liyanage delivered

    Bernard Jayatilake Saturday, 24 June 2023 09:16 PM

    How can you defend and justify politically appointed heads of foreign missions when there are career diplomats and being only a lawyer you yourself is not suitable to run the Foreign Ministry?

    Kabir Hashim Saturday, 24 June 2023 09:51 PM

    Pacha Sabri will do anything for money.

    Anthony. R Sunday, 25 June 2023 12:08 AM

    Wow,a Justification on a Diplomatic appointment!!!!! "Birds of a feather Flock together "

    Ama Sunday, 25 June 2023 01:07 AM

    Their FAMILY will only flourish at the expense of the country.

    Amaran Sunday, 25 June 2023 01:16 AM

    @ Prakash: Well said ... thanks for your comment. President will say "YES" TO ALL because He depends on SLPP support.

    Mohommed Sunday, 25 June 2023 08:43 AM

    Appointments for the dismay of people, never prepare to face franchises. What a handy appointee inside politically handicapped circus.

    Anton weerasinghe Sunday, 25 June 2023 09:39 AM

    this is the reason people of this country are asking for a system change.

    We je Sunday, 25 June 2023 10:58 AM

    Very soon all his close family members residing in UK will be offered at least part time assignments in the Embassy .

    Chulan Sunday, 25 June 2023 11:03 AM

    Mr Sabry don’t give stupid excuses as always you remove one of the career diplomat

    Tom jones Sunday, 25 June 2023 02:21 PM

    Another Medamula Appointment. Did Ali Sabry discuss the appointment with the Tamil Diaspora. Where is the President heading? Is it towards Economic Recovery or Economic disaster.

    Jeramias Sunday, 25 June 2023 04:27 PM

    This man has to anyway make comments which will please Ranil !

    Maqs Sunday, 25 June 2023 08:35 PM

    Learn the ABCs of Foreign Service from India

    Cecil Hedwige Monday, 26 June 2023 08:37 AM

    Why not appoint the actor (joker) Tennyson Cootay instead of Bogollogama,as Tennyson is a better choice.

    Gamini Monday, 26 June 2023 09:55 AM

    SL will have to seek additional funding Rom IMF to man the most expensive embassy in UK with Bogollagama in charge

    Sue Kirthisinghe Monday, 26 June 2023 11:15 AM

    If that's a 'well thought out' decision by you and the President, I dread to think of other decisions you people take on behalf of our country. Have you really forgotten who and what 'Rohitha Bogollagama was?

    Anthony. R Monday, 26 June 2023 12:34 PM

    Cause of Sleepless nights may be??? Wake up ,what stupid excuses all the time.

    UMAS ALI Monday, 26 June 2023 01:01 PM

    JUST THING AN UNEDUCATED SRI-LANKAN ORIGIN PETROL PUMP BOY WORKING IN AMERICA LIKE MR BASIL RAJAPAKSA WAS THE FINANCE MINISTER.

    Kirohondage Janapala Monday, 26 June 2023 04:17 PM

    Both are equally corrupt - then no problem of this appointment!! Poor man has no bread or pol sambol!!


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