By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan/Ceylon Today
Colombo, February 8: The Sri Lanka Foreign Service Association (SLFSA ) expressed dismay on Friday over the National Peoples’Power (NPP) government’s decision to bypass career diplomats in favour of political appointees, undermining institutional integrity and compromising Sri Lanka’s diplomatic standing.
Mahishini Colonne is the only career diplomat among the new batch of diplomatic appointments made by the NPP Government, having been nominated as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India.
The SLFSA said that the appointments contradict the NPP’s own 2024 election manifesto, which promised to “appoint professional career diplomats, with a proven track record, to head Sri Lanka’s missions.”
The Association has made repeated requests for meetings with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath to discuss these concerns. However, despite multiple follow-ups, an opportunity for engagement has not yet been granted. The SLFSA will continue to pursue these meetings.
Last week, Ceylon Today revealed that the National People’s Power (NPP) Government had nominated several individuals, mostly political appointees, for key diplomatic positions. A Diplomatic Note was sent on 30 January 2025, requesting approval from the host countries.
According to sources, former Air Force Commander, Air Marshal (Retd) Udeni Rajapaksa has been named High Commissioner to South Africa, while former Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya has been nominated as Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.
Nimal Senadheera, a former Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) officer currently pursuing a PhD in Scotland, has been appointed as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Prof. Janaka Kumarasinghe has been nominated as the Ambassador to Japan, and Prof. Arusha Cooray as the Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Prof. Nirmala Rathnayake has also been nominated as an ambassador. A recently retired Navy Commander is likely to be appointed as the High Commissioner to Pakistan. Additionally, journalist Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Mahinda Rathnayake, a writer for Ravaya newspaper, has been nominated as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Cuba.
The SLFSA said this decision is particularly alarming, as it directly contradicts the Government of Sri Lanka’s 2024 election manifesto, which pledged to “Appoint professional career diplomats, with a proven track record to head Sri Lanka’s missions.”
They recalled that the Government also pledged to appoint qualified officers for Foreign Service on a merit basis with professional excellence, with the highest standards of ethical conduct and diplomatic discretion.
The NPP Government also said, “Immediate remedial action must be taken to de-politicise the Foreign Service and make appointments on merit.”
Despite these commitments, the continuation of politically motivated appointments undermines the integrity of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic corps and demotivates career diplomats who have undergone rigorous training and have extensive international experience.
The SLFSA expressed its deep concern over disregarding the established norms of professionalism, meritocracy, and diplomatic expertise.
The SLFSA expressed its strong disappointment over these appointments, which have overlooked experienced, highly qualified, and career Foreign Service Officers who have dedicated their careers to representing Sri Lanka on the global stage. The Sri Lanka Foreign Service is a specialised cadre, trained specifically to execute the country’s foreign policy and safeguard its international interests but several recent appointments to Head of Mission (HOM) positions have been made from outside the Sri Lanka Foreign Service (SLFS).
“There is a longstanding and regrettable precedent of ambassadorial and diplomatic positions being awarded as political favours by successive governments. The SLFSA had hoped that this practice would end, allowing for a stronger, more independent Foreign Service that serves the best interests of Sri Lanka rather than political affiliations. The continuation of this trend is a matter of grave concern, not only for the Foreign Service but for the country as a whole.”
“The SLFSA strongly urges the Government to reconsider these appointments, prioritise merit-based selections, and uphold its commitment to a professional, independent, and effective Foreign Service.”
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