The National People’s Power (NPP) government is under scrutiny for making several political appointments to key Sri Lankan missions abroad, despite past criticism of the politicisation of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service.
After President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office last year, the Foreign Affairs Ministry recalled all politically appointed heads of Sri Lankan missions—except for Mahinda Samarasinghe, who remains the Ambassador to the United States. This move has caused discontent among career diplomats, who question the government's decision to retain him while removing others. Officials claim that his presence is necessary for continued engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the four-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme initiated by the previous administration. However, it is argued that the ambassador’s role in Washington, D.C. is not essential for IMF dealings.
The government is reportedly moving forward with more political appointments. Among the notable nominations:
- Prof. Janaka Kumarasinghe as Ambassador to Japan
- Former Air Force Commander Udeni Rajapaksa as High Commissioner to South Africa
- Nimal Senadheera, a PhD candidate in Scotland, as High Commissioner to the UK
- Prof. Arusha Cooray as Ambassador to the UAE
- Sonali Samarasinghe, widow of slain Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga, as Minister Counsellor to Sri Lanka’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Meanwhile, career diplomat Mahishini Colonne will be appointed as High Commissioner to India, and a former navy chief is likely to be named as head of the mission in Pakistan.
The shortage of experienced career diplomats has been cited as a reason for the government's increasing reliance on non-career appointees, continuing a trend followed by successive governments in the past.
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