LNP – NPP Govt. heading for political appointments to key overseas missions

Despite past criticism of politicisation of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, the National People’s Power (NPP) government is in the process of making political appointments to head key Sri Lankan missions abroad, Daily Mirror learns.

After President Anura Kumara Dissanayake took office last year, the Foreign Affairs Ministry recalled all the politically appointed heads of Sri Lankan missions except Mr. Mahinda Samarasinghe who continues to serve as the Ambassador to the United States. It has already created dissension among career diplomats who question why one political appointee is favoured. However, the government is reportedly justifying its position in this regard saying that his service is required to engage with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the implementation of the four-year EFF supported programme initiated by the last government. Still, it is argued that the role of Sri Lankan Ambassador in Washington DC is not fundamental for engagement with the IMF on this matter.

Besides, the government has now sought to make a few more political appointments to head Sri Lanka’s missions in important capitals.

Among them, Prof. Janaka Kumarasinghe is tipped to be nominated to head the Sri Lankan Embassy in Tokyo whereas former Air Force Commander Udeni Rajapaksa is nominated for South Africa. Nimal Senadheera, a Sri Lankan reading for his doctorate in Scotland, has been selected as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Prof. Arusha Cooray is tipped to be nominated to the UAE.

Also, the latest decision is to appoint slain Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga’s widow Sonali Samarasinghe as Minister Counsellor to Sri Lanka’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.

However, career diplomat Mahisini Colonne will be appointed Sri Lanka’s next High Commissioner to New Delhi.

A former navy chief is likely to be nominated to head the mission in Pakistan. The successive governments in the past resorted to filling missions with non-career diplomats. The dearth of experienced career diplomats is cited as a reason for the government to resort to handpick non-career diplomats.