Sri Lanka needs a new kind of diplomatic service

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

The need for a well established diplomatic service was felt by the Government and also by the foreign analysts, to counter the negative issues spread internationally tarnishing the image of the country and to propagate the success stories in the post conflict Sri Lanka. The diplomats are the live wires of such an effective campaign.

In the post conflict era, it is time for the Sri Lankan diplomats to come out from their luxury chambers and open the doors of their respective foreign missions for all to get their service and to avoid engaging in traditional ceremonial diplomacy.

It is time for them to use their expertise to tap the support of the Tamil diaspora, especially the pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora to convince them about the activities to look after their own people in the Wanni, who suffered immensely under the LTTE control.

There is an urgent need to paint a positive picture internationally to reveal the truth on how the Sri Lankan military waged war against the ruthless LTTE, which kept over 300,000 civilians as hostages and the success stories about them, who are threading lives under the newly dawned peace.

This was highlighted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa who stressed the importance of having a new form of diplomatic service instead of the traditional diplomatic service when he handed over credentials to 17 newly-appointed Ambassadors and High Commissioners at a ceremony held at the Temple Trees in the middle of last week.

Today we need a new form of Diplomatic Service instead of the existing traditional diplomatic service; a diplomatic service that is capable of performing their duties in assisting the economic development process of the country, he said.

The President said the officers of the diplomatic service should be well knowledgeable of the prevailing state of the country and be able to identify things that the country needs from the host countries.

“While strengthening the relationships with the various influential social groups of the relevant countries and eliminating the wrong impressions and attitudes that have been created overseas by the groups linked with the LTTE, our diplomats should strive to convince the reality of the situation prevailing in our country and thereby secure the dignity of the country”, he said.

The 17 newly appointed Ambassadors and High Commissioners are: Asitha Perera (Italy), Tissa Wijeratne (Republic of Korea), C.A.H.M. Wijeratne (Kuwait) B.G.R. Uyangoda (China), A.L.A. Aziz (Austria), Jayantha Palipana (Qatar), M.A.K. Girihagama (Oman), M.R. Guneratne (Lebanon), Buddhi K. Athauda (Netherlands), Sarath Kongahage (Germany), H. R. Piyasiri (Myanmar), Rtrd. General Shantha Kottegoda (Thailand), Oshadi Alahapperuma (Sweden), T. Ravindiran (Kenya), Rtrd. Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe (Australia), Kalyananda Godage (Malaysia) and Ms. Ferial Ashrof (Singapore).

Speaking at the National Scholarship Awards ceremony for children of migrant employees registered under the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) at Temple Trees on Friday, the President said there are about 1.6 million Sri Lankan migrant employees who have been registered with the SLFEB and they send billions of foreign exchange to the country.

The President said the Government has been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the welfare and better education for the children of Sri Lankan migrant workers. He also said that migrant workers make an immense contribution to the national economy of the country.

He said the SLFEB, which was in the verge of closing down due to the inability of paying salaries, has overcome its poor financial situation due to certain programs implemented by the Government. “ The migrant workers contribute towards the country’s economy immensely by bringing billions of foreign exchange.

The Government wants to assist the children of these families to improve their educational standards. We are committed to secure a better future for these children”, he said.

About 1,760 scholarships, ranging between Rs. 15,000 to 30,000, were granted for Grade 5, O-L, A-L and university selected students.

Referring to the incident that erupted between the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) workers in Katunayake and the Police, President Rajapaksa said the clash was instigated by certain political elements with vested interests even after the Government had informed of its decision to the employees.

He said that it was an unfortunate incident spurred by a handful of persons with political motives.

The President was of the view that this incident could have been prevented, if this group heeded the Government’s announcement which received wide publicity.

The President also said that the Government proposed the pension scheme for the private sector with good intentions and would discuss with the relevant stakeholders in the field on the proposed pension scheme for foreign employed persons, before proceeding with it.