More Lankan Foreign Missions in the offing - Neomal Perera

By P. Krishnaswamy

Acting Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera told the Sunday Observer in an interview that his Ministry recently recruited staff in two batches after conducting competitive examinations to overcome the staff shortage problem in the Sri Lankan Foreign Service while one more batch is also to be recruited in June/July. His Ministry is now concentrating on establishing foreign missions in many more countries, especially in West Asia and South America, primarily to promote bilateral trade for the country's economic growth. This is being done considering the present world economic trend, he said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government staunchly support the Palestinian cause. The Government's greenlight to permit Israel to open its embassy in Colombo will not deter that stance in any manner, he said. Sri Lanka's foreign missions are to be increased in terms of Mahinda Chinthana, he said.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: You told the media recently that there is a shortage of staff in Sri Lanka's foreign service. Can you tell us what actions have been taken by your Ministry to overcome this problem?

A: As soon as Prof. G.L. Pieris assumed office as Minister of External Affairs, he instructed the administration section and the ministry secretary to take steps to advertise, call for applications from suitable candidates and hold competitive examinations for recruitment to the foreign service. This was done and up to now we have recruited two batches, one consisting of 12 and the other about 16. A third batch is also to be recruited. The last date of applications from the third batch was closed on March 31. The date of examination will be notified to the candidates this month and the Examinations Department will hold exams in June/July.

Q: Certain opposition political parties have opposed the Government's move to open up more foreign missions and have suggested that the Government, instead, should reduce the number of foreign missions in order to cut down on expenditure. Your comments on this?

A: We are not interested in what either the JVP or other parties want us to do in this matter. In terms of Mahinda Chinthana, we want to increase the number of foreign missions to enhance bilateral trade for our economic growth. This will benefit the country and the people. We are working on increasing the number of our foreign missions. We are looking at countries where we can establish new foreign missions. We did a survey over the past one year. We are reducing the number of staff in certain missions and increasing the number in some others where more staff are required. We have already established a mission in Turkey and at the moment we are looking at Nigeria. We will be opening missions in some West Asian countries as well as in South American countries. This is for the explicit purpose of promoting bilateral trade considering the world economic situation.

Q: Many political parties representing the Muslim community have lodged their protests against the Government's decision to allow Israel to establish their embassy in Colombo. Some of these parties are allies of the UPFA Government. Will it lead to a situation where the Islamic nations will be antagonised?

A: There is already a Honorary Consul General in Colombo representing Israel. We have an embassy in Tel Aviv. We want to promote diplomatic relations with all countries. We already have some officers operating in Delhi to look after the interests of our exporters and importers dealing with Israel. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the country resolutely stand for the Palestinian cause. We have not deviated from that stand. We would encourage not only Israel but any country to establish its embassy in Colombo for promoting bilateral trade. We do not incur any expenses when they open their embassies in Colombo. It will also facilitate any distressed parties to approach the embassies direct seeking remedial measures.

Q: The Sri Lanka's delegation led by Minister Prof. G.L. Pieris was in Washington DC and held meetings with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other US authorities. Some sections of the media had reported that a 'Comprehensive Action Plan' for the implementation of the LLRC report was presented to the US authorities. Your comments on that please?

A: As to what should be done and can be done on implementation of the LLRC report has been discussed many times in the parliament. The President has appointed his own Secretary to oversee the implementation process. This is proof that the President has given top priority to the implementation process.

Many of the recommendations in the LLRC report are already in the implementation process and the other recommendations will be implemented phased over a period. What can be done currently has been done. The others will be short-term, medium-term or long-term processes. We do not have to produce documents, reports or 'Plan of Action' to anybody.

Several government departments and Ministries, including the Defence Ministry, are engaged in the implementation process. We also need the participation and approval of the parliament for the implementation process. Whatever needs to be done in the best interests of the country has been done and much more is to be done in the future. The Sri Lankan delegation led by Minister Pieris only kept Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other US authorities informed of developments in the process. There will be more routine visits to the US to discuss bilateral issues as well.

Q: What is our position with regard to the incumbent Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed who has been accused by his predecessor Mohamed Nasheed of having unlawfully and unconstitutionally ousted him?

A: Former President Mohamed Nasheed had handed over power to the incumbent President Mohamed Waheed in keeping with constitutional provisions. President Waheed may go on for a few more months as the interim Head of the State. Sri Lanka and all neighbouring countries have requested him to hold the elections on the due date and to maintain law and order during the elections.

Q: You were the former Deputy Minister of Fisheries. Are you confident in your present position as Deputy Minister of External Affairs that we can amicably resolve the long unsettled cross-border fishermen's issue with India?

A: This matter came up for discussion with the Indian authorities over and again in the recent period. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has now permitted the Southern fishermen to go for seasonal fishing to the North, East and the North West. For some 30 years the fishermen of Sri Lanka, both from the North or South, could not go fishing in the Northern seas and the Indian fishermen exploited the situation. Our request to India is that they should get their fishermen to adopt sustainable methods of fishing to the benefit of all fishermen. They should get their fishermen to desist from taking recourse to destructive methods of fishing, such as the use of mono-filament nets and bottom trawling. If this is adhered to, I believe, we can resolve our cross-border issue. The destructive fishing methods are destroying breeding grounds such as, corals reefs, while depleting fish resources.

Q: Even after the recent release of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka under Presidential pardon, some sections of the media keep saying that the release was a sequel to international pressure.

A: I have been the Deputy Minister of External Affairs for the past almost two years. I meet Ambassadors and diplomats, representing the US and other Western countries. None of them either expressed any concern or handed over communications, from their respective countries, over the prison term of Sarath Fonseka. They did not raise this issue nor seek his release because we were following the judicial procedure which they respect. They do not consider him a political leader. He was released on presidential pardon and there has been no external pressure whatsoever.

Q: During her recent official visit to Sri Lanka, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Philippines assured that following suit with many members of the international community her Government too would take stern action against sections of the Tamil diaspora community who campaign for the lost cause of the LTTE. In your view, are there countries that still support the cause of the LTTE?

A: There are a few countries, including Australia and Norway, that have not so far banned the LTTE. LTTE activists, through the support of some among the Tamil diaspora community, are trying to raise their head by continuing their international illegal activities, including human trafficking and drug smuggling. They are doing it for their survival in the footsteps of the now defunct LTTE and to raise foul cries of separatism.