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A diplomat expecting to be appointed as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to a newly established mission in an Eastern European nation has written to the Foreign Ministry raising concern over the delay in confirming his appointment.

The career diplomat, who is from the Sri Lanka Foreign Service (SLFS), has written the letter after coming to know that his appointment had been put on hold until a suitable successor has been found for his current post, which is in a West Asian country, now in the news due to the ongoing war in its extended geographical area.

Not satisfied by writing to his immediate superiors in his ministry, he has copied what would be a confidential letter outlining his credentials and the need for him to get out of the West Asian country and go to Eastern Europe to others in the government as well, particularly the Prime Minister. He has advised, in a letter replete with glaring spelling errors in English, that the ministry can still proceed with his nomination to the Eastern European nation by seeking the agreement of that country while also simultaneously submitting his nomination to Parliament’s Committee on High Posts.

What his urgency to get out to Eastern Europe probably is what baffles the ministry. Especially when there’s a need to have someone in the country he presently is due to the unfolding war in West Asia. His recommendation for a transfer also seems to have the flavour of political influence at play.

The ministry may have to come up with rules relating to its diplomats serving abroad using social media, especially WhatsApp and Facebook if it doesn’t want to wash dirty linen in public–or worse still, embarrass the government by making their private views public.

It was only last week in this cafe’s menu card did we refer to one of our publicity loving ambassador’s posting photographs of himself on Facebook and saying what a wonderful job he was doing in the midst of a war. He even ran down his predecessor saying that Sri Lankans in the country he was serving found him far more approachable. Patting himself on the back, he went on to comment on what ought to have been government policy.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Israel, wore the hat and sent this newspaper a long letter giving his version of events. He accused persons inside the “corridors of the foreign ministry” of telling us about his behaviour. Terming the news item “non newsworthy” and gossip, he contradicts himself by saying the photographs he posted on Facebook shows the importance of the work his embassy does during the crisis in Israel with a war on, and being short-staffed.

He then goes on to refer to the 14 books he has written in Sinhala. These have been translated into English and Tamil and therefore he needs no extra publicity. He then diverts to slamming his colleagues in the Foreign Ministry in Colombo, squarely accusing them of jealousy at his rise in the diplomatic service. He claims many of them have entered through “influence and manipulation.” He goes on to criticise his colleagues in the ministry, who despite serving for 25 years in the Foreign Service have not got their mandatory Masters degree. He adds that he is willing to give a journalist from this newspaper all the details of those in the ministry who have gone places due to influence. He winds up quoting from the English poet William Blake on ‘Jealousy’.

His conduct came up for discussion initially when a cabinet minister complained to his colleague in the foreign ministry. This week, both ministers got the ambassador on the line and gave him an earful. For the ambassador it seems he is having a war at his door-step, and a war with his bosses at home.

Behind-the-scenes campaigns and diplomatic lobbying for post of WHO South East Asia’s regional director

With most of the countries in the South Asian region scheduled to go for elections next year, a closed-door secret election for the top post of Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) held this week in New Delhi, saw some behind-the-scene campaigning and diplomatic lobbying.

Saima Wazed, the daughter of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was elected as the WHO South East Asia’s Regional Director, after securing the highest number of votes of eight against fellow candidate Shambhu Prasad Acharya, who was nominated by Nepal. Acharya is a senior WHO official, and currently serves as the director in the office of Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus.

The election was held through a secret ballot during a meeting in New Delhi, with the participation of ten member-states including Sri Lanka that were eligible to vote. Earlier, India confirmed its support for the daughter of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister long before the election.

According to a statement issued by the WHO, Wazed was nominated by member-states as the next regional director during a closed meeting at the 76th session of the regional committee for the South-East Asian region which comprises eleven countries–Bangladesh, Bhutan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor Leste. The office headquarters is located in New Delhi.

The current regional director is India’s Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the first woman to hold the post. She is in her second five-year term following unanimous re-election in 2018. The new regional director will take office from February 1 next year and will hold the post till 2028.

SLPP Leaders Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the pirith chanting ceremony

SLPP at cross-purposes over support for the Budget

“What would happen to the Budget?’ is the new topic in the political arena. The subject has come up for discussion after Minister Namal Rajapaksa said he would support the Budget only if concessions were given to the people.

Recently, a group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs held a meeting at Namal Rajapaksa’s residence and it was decided that Namal Rajapaksa should seek advice from former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the party’s virtual head honcho Basil Rajapaksa, before taking a decision on voting at the upcoming Budget.

On Wednesday, Namal Rajapaksa met his father, Mahinda Rajapaksa. He told his father he needed to think about supporting the Budget, if the government failed to provide relief to people.

However, Mahinda Rajapaksa, being the veteran politician, advised his son “Yes, it is good to take an independent decision as a Member of Parliament, but you should research more about this. You have to ask everyone about this. Meet party leaders and former finance ministers and get an idea.”

Namal Rajapaksa said he too was working on a programme, where he would visit houses,to meet party elders, professionals, former Central Bank governors and finance secretaries.

While former President Mahinda Rajapaksa mentors his son for future leadership, the party also marked its seventh anniversary, and held a pirith chanting event at the party head office. SLPP leaders such as Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa and party General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam attended.

Hakmana Police arrest colleague suspected of selling packets of heroin

As the Police try to fight the drug menace in the country, it seems they may have to be on the watch out for their own rogue men supposed to be enforcing law and order.

On Friday, a Policeman involved in drug trafficking was detected by the Hakmana Police. In his possession were four packets of heroin containing 7,140 milligrammes ready for distribution.

Investigations revealed that the 38-year-old Policeman was selling a packet at Rs 2,500 and receiving the money through his bank account.

SLFP’s former General Secretary in a heap of trouble

The man who claims to have strived to safeguard the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), when other key members left the party to find greener pastures, has landed himself in a heap of trouble, as the party leadership attempts to attract the deserters to strengthen the party.

The party’s former General Secretary, Dayasiri Jayasekara, was suspended from the party and removed from the party position. He is currently overseas, and scheduled to face a disciplinary inquiry on his return.

Mr. Jayasekara during his tenure was strict against party deserters and took measures to reorganise the party without deserters.

The party’s central committee held a meeting at the SLFP headquarters on Friday, to decide the fate of the former General Secretary and the future action of the party. At the meeting it was decided to appoint a disciplinary inquiry board to inquire into the charges against Mr Jayasekara.

Police guards for Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka

As the war between Israel and Hamas wages ever more furiously, its effects are being felt in different ways in various other countries. There have already been angry demonstrations of support for both sides, sometimes leading to violence.

There have been protests in support of both Israel and Palestine in Sri Lanka as well, though thankfully, there have not been competing demonstrations at the same location and no violence.

However, there is tension. Arugam Bay Police were so concerned over the safety of Israeli tourists during the early days of the war that the few Israeli tourists who were left were watched over by Police guards. This was after an incident where a Sri Lankan man, who Police said was under the influence of liquor, had berated a group of female Israeli tourists. He was promptly arrested. Many of the Israeli tourists are now staying along the southern coast for the winter season.

Some Israeli tourists meanwhile have also taken a hardline stance. The Sunday Times has seen images from social media groups of Israeli tourists where some have shared posts of Sri Lankans who they have associated with previously, including names and personal details of taxi drivers and yoga instructors, urging their fellow countrymen and women not to do business with them as they support “Palestine,” “Terrorists” or “Gaza.”

The polarisation has reached such levels that even sharing a social media post expressing support for Palestine or on the plight of those in Gaza could be construed as supporting ‘Hamas’ and ‘Terrorism’. The same problem is seen in many other parts of the globe. The fact that you can support Palestine while condemning the atrocities of Hamas or that you can condemn the horrendous Israeli massacres of Palestinian civilians, while also expressing sympathy with innocent Israelis victims of Hamas attacks is lost on many.