Amza for Saudi Arabia following controversy…

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Due to Canada and Saudi Arabia refusing to accept retired Air Marshal Sumangala Dias and Ahmed A. Jawad, respectively, as heads of Sri Lankan missions, the government has been forced to change plans.

Sri Lanka has named Dias as the new Ambassador to Italy after Canada tuned down Sri Lanka’s move on the basis of unsubstantiated war crimes accusations.

Having served the country since 1984, Air Marshal Dias retired on Nov 02, 2020 as the SLAF’s 17th Commander.

The Canadian High Commission yesterday (27) told The Island declined to comment on the matter. Asked for clarification regarding Sri Lanka’s request and Canadian denial, the HC said that ‘as it is subject to state-to-state confidentiality, we do not comment on the process.” The Communications Department of the Parliament on April 23 quoted Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake as having said that the Parliamentary High Posts Committee chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena approved Air Marshal Dias and P.M. Amza as Sri Lanka’s envoys in Canada and Saudi Arabia, respectively. The Secretary General made no reference to those countries declining to accept previous nominations. Amza holds the rank of Acting Additional Secretary, Foreign Ministry.

The Island sought Canadian HC’s response in the wake of the statement issued by the parliament.

Sources said that Canada being a member of Sri Lanka Core Group at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) wasn’t likely to accept ex-Sri Lankan military officers on the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission there. Canada campaigned for the resolution adopted on March 23 at the UNHRC with 22 countries voting for, 11 against and 14 abstentions.

Authoritative sources said that there hadn’t been a single specific accusation against Dias.

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had been present at the High Post Committee meeting along with several other lawmakers, including war winning Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.

 The government announced the appointment of Air Marshal Dias as well as Ahmed A. Jawad in late Oct last year. The Parliamentary High Posts Committee approved their appointments in the following month. Sources said that Saudi Arabia has rejected Jawad’s appointment as he served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Riyadh at the time teenage Sri Lankan maid Rizana Nafeek was beheaded in early January 2013. The then Rajapaksa administration protested the Saudi execution by recalling Ahmed. Saudi Arabia, too, recalled its envoy.

Although a new envoy had been named for Saudi Arabia, the vacancy in Canada was yet to be discussed at the all-party parliamentary committee.