• SLFSA expresses concerns and seeks a meeting with the President and FM
• Charges that the move bypasses career diplomats and weakens institutional integrity

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra yesterday (9) justified the nomination of many non-career diplomats stating that it was a practice used by many countries.

The comments from the deputy minister come in the wake of media reports alleging that a number of those who have been nominated by the Government to take up posts in Sri Lankan missions overseas are not career diplomats, a practice which the Jantha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led National People’s Power (NPP) party had criticised when enacted by previous governments.

The media report last week alleged that Professor Janaka Kumarasinghe is nominated to be the Head of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Tokyo while a former Air Force Commander has been nominated to the embassy in South Africa.

“Sri Lanka, like several other countries, appoints non-career diplomats and we have a quota system for that,” Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra, told The Daily Morning yesterday. “However, these people are still not appointed and are only under consideration by the Government.”

Following the media reports on these alleged appointments, it was reported that the Sri Lanka Foreign Service Association (SLFSA) expressed concerns that the recent appointments have been made outside the Sri Lanka Foreign Service and would therefore damage the integrity of the diplomatic service.

The SLFSA has requested a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as well as with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, to discuss their concerns.

“The Sri Lanka Foreign Service Association (SLFSA) notes with deep concern that several recent appointments to Head of Mission (HOM) positions have been made from outside the Sri Lanka Foreign Service (SLFS), disregarding the established norms of professionalism, meritocracy, and diplomatic expertise. The SLFSA expresses 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. Bypassing career diplomats in favour of political appointees weakens institutional integrity and compromises Sri Lanka’s diplomatic standing,” the SLFSA said in a press release, reminding the NPP Government of the election manifesto pledges it had made in the lead up to coming to power.

“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,” they said.

Yet, despite the concerns of career diplomats being bypassed, Hemachandra stated that the National People’s Power (NPP) Government has appointed five career diplomats since it took power in addition to considering non-career diplomats.   

“We have made five appointments to Egypt, Russia, Qatar, Kuwait and New Zealand,” Hemachandra said.

Despite the appointment of these career diplomats, reports mention that a shortage of foreign service officers exists, with several diplomats stating that there is a lack of trained professionals in the Foreign Service following the freezing of recruitment in 2018. Several foreign service officers said that the Foreign Service should have more than 250 foreign service officers.

Former Foreign Minister, Ali Sabry, had acknowledged the shortage in foreign service staff and stated that approximately thirty to forty foreign service staff would be needed during a press conference in 2022.