Sri Lanka has recalled 29 non-foreign service envoys in order to lessen the politicization of its diplomatic corps at the top level, media reports said.

It has been revealed that 35 out of the country’s 65 missions overseas have been under non-foreign service envoys, many of whom being relatives or supporters of politicians, including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

They had been appointed without any test or examination on their capability and the only purpose had been to serve the political constituencies or the families of the politicians.

However, the envoys in New Delhi and Washington have been left untouched in the current shake-up. The Lankan Ambassador in Washington, Prasad Kariyawasam, is a retired career diplomat. The High Commissioner in India, Prof Sudarshan Seneviratne, is expected to continue at his post at least until the completion of two high-level visits in February-March, The New Indian Express said. President Sirisena is to visit India in February, and Prime Minister Narendera Modi is to come to Sri Lanka in March.

Prof Seneviratne and some others could even stay on for a long period because the Lankan government is not thinking of completely doing away with the practice of appointing non-foreign service persons. Senaviratne is a celebrated academic in the country.

The earlier norm had been to give 60 per cent of the posts to career diplomats and 40 per cent to others. The Sirisena government has raised the career diplomats’ share to 70 per cent, The New Indian Express said. This is in reaction to the excessive recruitment of non-foreign service people during the Rajapaksa regime.

At the end of Rajapaksa’s nine year rule, 54 per cent of the envoys were non-career diplomats, a very high share even by the Lankan yardsticks.
(With inputs from The New Indian Express)