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With COVID-19 raging worldwide, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has embarked on a new drive – video conferences with heads of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic missions overseas. They have turned out to be more interesting than television talk shows.

Their mission – to discuss topics like genocide and economic diplomacy. Like during lotteries, the missions for this time-consuming exercise have been picked at random. In the process, three countries important to Sri Lanka for economic reasons have been left out. They are The Netherlands, Pakistan and Malaysia. No reasons have been given nor asked by those responsible.

The first session focused entirely on “genocide” — the discussion lasting more than a record seven hours, according to insiders. Not surprisingly, even though the focus was on ‘strategic communication’ the Ministry spokesperson maintained stoic silence throughout.

With Addis Ababa saying that “There is no reference to genocide in this part of the world” to Riyadh adding that “There is only talk of Muslim Genocide in West Asia”, the discussion just went on and on with one of our Ambassadors butting in to say that “I am meeting all these important persons but I have nothing to tell them because I don’t get any response to my communications to the Ministry!” That to the man who is directing this new diplomatic foray and acted as moderator – Ravinatha Aryasinha, the Foreign Secretary.

The Europe based Ambassador concerned went on such a long harangue, Aryasinha, the moderator pulled the plug or just muted the volume. Then there was our diplomat in Brasilia only saying how much he is trying to go around the South American continent, but not getting any support without mentioning a word about what his work was of relevance to “genocide.”

From Colombo the comeback was even better with a senior Ministry official saying that “There is a proposal to open an Embassy in Chile!”

Brasilia was not in favour for obvious reasons. Our diplomat in New York, who had little to add as there’s little happening in the UN, took time to ponder about Samantha Power becoming the next Secretary of State under a Joe Biden administration in the United States. That would make her life difficult.

Then there were the newly appointed political ambassadors who made lengthy power-point presentations on their ‘vision.’ This was all capped by the diplomat in Beijing. When asked about ‘negative coverage’ he replied, “We don’t have to worry about any media issues in China.”

Now to the second show, this time on Economic Diplomacy. Of course, as usual, the ministry hurriedly sent a list of 15 items for export promotion just hours before the discussion! More Embassies were added. This time too, there were exclusions. This one went on for almost 10 hours. With a lengthy account on WTO negotiations in Geneva along with a poignant presentation of market access in Bermuda followed by Havana saying, “Cuba is important for political reasons and not economic reasons” and wriggling out of the discourse.

As one source put it, there was also in play a game of “pass the ball”, when the diplomat in Ottawa was asked about what is being done about Sri Lanka’s exports (as the numbers have been low for a while), the ball was immediately passed on to the Consulate in Toronto where the Consul deftly deflected it to an ill-prepared official who hemmed and hawed only to get blamed by Secretary Aryasinha.

Then came a gem when another budding diplomat in Brussels, once again taking a good 30 minutes, to express strong displeasure at authorities in Colombo for not approving her proposal to advertise Sri Lanka on buses. This is when Belgium accounts for less than 1% of foreign tourists arriving in Sri Lanka, according to data obtained before the Easter attacks last year. To their credit, some political diplomats like the one in Berlin played a straight bat by trying to highlight some practical ideas to promote exports.

Webinar to facilitate stronger Indo-Lanka economic ties

Another webinar the Foreign Ministry was engaged in was one on “Deepening Economic Collaboration between India and Sri Lanka.” It was organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) jointly with the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) and was held on Tuesday.

Foreign Secretary Ravinath Aryasinha deputised for Minister Dinesh Gunawardene who backed out at the last minute. Mr Aryasinha spoke of the Government’s commitment to “facilitating, protecting and promoting the liberal investment climate in Sri Lanka.”

It was an interesting pitch to India which is already nervy about Chinese in-roads to Sri Lanka’s economy and particularly right now considering the goings-on at the Colombo port’s East Terminal where there is a mini Indo-China power struggle taking place.

India’s new High Commissioner Gopal Bagley referred to the need for policies oriented to the future. “Balancing economic security was a key area,” he pointed out.

The FCCI President Dr. Sangita Reddy, daughter of Dr. Prathap C. Reddy who began the famous Apollo Hospital chain in India and opened a branch in Colombo, highlighted the strong friendship between the late Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and his wife, Suganthie with her family. It was the late Minister Kadirgamar who was instrumental in convincing the Reddy family to invest in a hospital in Sri Lanka. She said that healthcare and pharma were potential sectors of collaboration between India and Sri Lanka.

The webinar comes in the backdrop of a “technical discussion” through a video conference this week between Sri Lankan officials of the Foreign and Finance ministries of both countries on rescheduling Sri Lanka’s outstanding debt repayment. Sri Lanka owes India US$ 960 million.

Head rolls at Swiss embassy in Colombo

Hans Peter Mok, the Swiss Ambassador to Sri Lanka, who was one of those at the centre of controversy over the claimed abduction of an Embassy staffer, is leaving.

Mr Bern has named him the new Swiss Ambassador to Spain. A veteran Swiss diplomat with a thorough knowledge of Asian affairs is to succeed Mr Mok.

The Swiss Embassy’s Assistant Immigration Officer Garnia Francis alleged that she was abducted at gunpoint when she was leaving the office.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives who conducted an investigation have said that her claims were false and action has now been filed in courts.

Academic diplomat joins Sajith’s team

An academic turned diplomat who has ended his tenure has become the latest advisor to Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa.

He joins a team, who among others, include Tissa Attanayake, former General Secretary of the United National Party (UNP) and Shiral Lakthilake Advisor to former President Maithripala Sirisena.

Some members who were identified as the “old guard,” including Mangala Samaraweera, former UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim and former Minister Malik Samarawickrema, are conspicuous by their absence from Premadasa’s campaign.

Mr Samaraweera quit his candidature from the Matara district. Mr Hashim is busy in his own electorate, Mawanella. Mr Samarawickrema is not contesting the parliamentary elections.

Senior lawyer caught in party rift

A senior President’s Counsel was besieged recently when he was about to accept a brief to appear for a major political party.

The party had split in two, and matters were before court when the party leader made a request for him to argue the case that had gone up in appeal.

No sooner the word went to others from the rival breakaway party (which says it is not a party), his phone started buzzing till his ears went red, with a string of calls from leaders and sub-lieutenants from the rival party. Even relatives ‘appealing’ to him not to appear in the appeal. One of them even barged into his home.

And so, weighed under the pressure of so many, the senior PC returned the brief. His services were not missed though at the end of the day, because the rivals lost the appeal anyway.

President’s Office VIP blocks relief to 600 victims

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe political victimisation received thousands of complaints of which about 600 were vetted and confirmed as genuine. The Cabinet recently agreed the victims should receive compensation or reinstatement to their jobs.

This was affirmed by a Cabinet-approved committee chaired by State Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. But despite going through the process, a higher-up in the President’s office is blocking action, informed sources said. The victims have expressed disappointment saying they suffered under the previous administration and are now receiving no relief from this Government.

Lankan star sidelined on Australian TV show

On Australian television, a Sri Lankan origin Australian reality star is creating a debate about diversity. The 28-year-old Niranga Amarasinghe is a participant in the Australian Bachelor in Paradise 2020, an elimination-style reality competition television series in which men and women find love interests.

But fans are irked that Niranga – an aircraft engineer who moved to Australia from Sri Lanka when he was three – is not getting enough screen time.

“How many times do we (and the good people of Twitter) have to say it: where-oh-where is Niranga’s much-deserved screen time on Bachelor in Paradise 2020?” one Australian publication screamed.

“We’re officially three episodes into the season, and even in last night’s drama-packed episode, the 28-year-old aircraft engineer got little to no screen time when he had actual lines.”

Niranga has explained why he is participating in the show. Apart from wanting to “just try something different”, he admits his decision to go on the show was somewhat influenced by his parents.

“Mum’s always asking when am I going to find someone and settle down because I’m getting pretty old now,” he told HuffPost Australia.

But rather than force an arranged marriage, he says his mother and father are instead “happy for me to find someone on TV.”