News
Foreign Service Association slams political appointments to diplomatic posts
The Sri Lanka Foreign Service Association (SLFSA) expressed deep concern on Friday over recent political appointments to Head of Mission (HOM) positions in the country’s diplomatic missions. In a statement, the SLFSA highlighted that several appointments were made from outside the Sri Lanka Foreign Service (SLFS), bypassing career diplomats in favor of individuals with political affiliations.
Full text of the statement: 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 specialized 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.
This decision is particularly alarming, as it directly contradicts the Government of Sri Lanka’s 2024 election manifesto, which pledged to: – “Appointing professional career diplomats, with a proven track record to head Sri Lanka’s missions. Appointing qualified officers for Foreign Service on merit basis with professional excellence, with highest standards of ethical conduct and diplomatic discretion.” – “Immediate remedial action must be taken to depoliticize 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.
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.
The Association has made repeated requests for meetings with H.E. the President and the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism 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.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
News
Cabinet nod to legally empower methodology for implementing the ‘Praja Shakthi’ poverty alleviation national movement
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft a bill to legally empower the implementation of ‘Praja Shakthi’ (Strength of the Community) poverty alleviation national movement
…preliminary work started on new Constitution
JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva yesterday (17) maintained that the NPP government was not under Indian pressure to hold the long delayed Provincial Council elections.
The top JVP official said so appearing on Sirasa Pathikada, anchored by Asoka Dias. Tilvin Silva said that neither the devolution nor terrorism issues had been discussed during his meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor, in New Delhi. This was Tilvin Silva’s first visit to India.
Declaring that politics hadn’t been on the agenda, the JVPer said that the Indian focus was entirely on economic development and technology.
The JVP General Secretary visited India under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ (ICCR) Distinguished Visitors Programme from 5-12 February 2026. General Secretary Silva was accompanied by Kitnan Selvaraj, MP, Ilankumaran Karunanathan, MP, JVP Central Committee Member Janaka Adhikari, JVP’s Media Unit Head Hemathilaka Gamage and Member of JVP’s International Relations Department Kalpana Madhubhashini. The delegation visited New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthapuram.
Responding to another query, Tilvin Silva said that Dr. S. Jaishankar had reiterated that India would always remain a true and trusted partner for Sri Lanka, in accordance with its ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and Vision ‘MAHASAGAR.’
Referring to the second JVP insurrection in the late 1980s, the JVPer claimed that they had not been against India but responded to the actions of the then Indian government.
Sri Lanka enacted the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in the wake of the Indo-Lanka peace accord of July 1987 to pave the way for Provincial Councils.
Tilvin Silva said that since they came to power, Indo-Sri Lanka relations had changed. “India has realised we could work together,” he said.
The JVP official said that preliminary work was underway, regarding the formulation of a new Constitution. The abolition of executive presidency and creation of an Office of President sans executive powers, too, would be addressed, he said, adding that the strengthening of the legislature was the other issue at hand.
Pointing out that the NPP had 2/3 majority in Parliament and could introduce a new Constitution on their own, Tilvin Silva said that they intended to obtain views of all and study the past processes in a bid to secure consensus. The JVP, as the party that campaigned against the introduction of executive presidency, way back in 1978, would lead the current effort to do away with the existing Constitution, he said.
Tilvin promised that they would implement what was in their manifesto.
The interviewer also raised the issue of abolishing the pensions for ex-Presidents. Tilvin Silva said that the Supreme Court, too, had approved the move to abolish pensions to ex-MPs. Therefore there was no issue with that, however, the ex-Presidents pensions couldn’t be done away with as they were made through the Constitution. That would be addressed when the government introduced a new Constitution in consultation with other stakeholders.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Cabinet approves construction of new 300 bed Base Hospital in Deniyaya
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