News
Govt. reverses top diplomatic appointment to Tokyo
by Shamindra Ferdinando
President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government has reversed the appointment of retired Admiral Jayanath Colombage as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Tokyo.
The Previous Foreign Secretary, Dr. Colombage, was to succeed political appointee Sanjiv Gunasekera, who resigned in June. The new administration has nominated senior career Foreign Service officer Rodney Perera, as Gunasekera’s replacement.
The government has informed the High Posts Committee (HPC) of Parliament of its decision to nominate Perera instead of Colombage. Authoritative sources said that examination of such diplomatic appointments by the HPC, chaired by the Speaker, was a formality.
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa cleared the way for ex-Navy Commander Colombage to take up the posting in Japan, after career foreign service officer, Aruni Wijewardane, was brought in as Foreign Secretary, in late May.
The appointment was made amidst the political campaign, demanding the resignation of the government. Sources pointed out that Sanjiv Gunasekera announced his intention to resign on May 09, the day the anti-government protest campaign erupted, in the wake of SLPP goons going on the rampage, at the Galle Face protest site.
Sources said that Rodney Perera’s elder brother Ronald Perera, PC, recently received appointment as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC). They are sons of the late Cabinet Minister Paul Perera, a staunch Wickremesinghe loyalist.
Rodney Perera served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador, in Washington, before being replaced by ex-minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, in Dec 2021. Perera received the appointment in June 2019. Prior to that, Perera served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union.
At the time of his new appointment, Rodney Perera was serving the US-based Sri Lanka Foundation as its Chief Executive Officer.
Sources said that the government needs to mend relations with Japan, badly affected due to the cancellation of the JAICA funded Light Rail project. in late Sept 2020. The project was meant to ease traffic congestion in Colombo and its suburbs. The project was to be launched when the change of government, in Nov 2019, led to its cancellation, after having done much preparatory work.
Prime Munister Dr Harini Amarasuriya returned to the island this (23rd) morning after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,
The Sri Lanka Navy successfully conducted a diving operation on 19 Jan 26 to inspect and restore the sluice gate of the Bomburuella Reservoir.
Acting on a request from the Department of Irrigation, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed a specialized diving team from the Western Naval Command, for the urgent requirement.
Through concerted effort, the Navy divers successfully cleared accumulated debris, including a significant quantity of wooden fragments, which had impeded the sluice gate mechanism.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya held a series of high-level bilateral meetings on Wednesday [January 21] on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, engaging with representatives of the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme, and the global private sector.
The Prime Minister met with Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management. During the meeting, she expressed Sri Lanka’s appreciation for the support extended by the European Union and its member states following Cyclone Ditwa. The Prime Minister also briefed the Commissioner on the key findings of the World Bank’s GRADE report and requested continued EU support for Sri Lanka’s development and recovery efforts.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya also met with Alexander De Croo, representing the United Nations Development Programme. She expressed appreciation for the longstanding partnership between Sri Lanka and the United Nations and acknowledged the UN’s support in flood relief and livelihood assistance. The Prime Minister noted that, following the mandate received at the parliamentary election, the government is focused on meeting public expectations through national rebuilding grounded in public trust and good governance. She further reaffirmed the Government of Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening social protection systems and safeguarding vulnerable communities.
In addition, the Prime Minister met with Robert M. Uggla, Chairman of A.P. Moller Holding. The discussion focused on engagement with the private sector and potential areas of collaboration.
These meetings reflected Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with international partners and global stakeholders to support recovery, development, and long-term economic stability.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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