13 new appointments to heads of Sri Lankan missions overseas

The Parliamentary Committee on High Posts has appointed 13 heads of missions in keeping with the nominations made by President Maithripala Sirisena, the Foreign Ministry said today (Aug 10).

Among the new appointments, the following career diplomats have received foreign postings;

• A.S. Khan - High Commissioner to Nigeria
• U.L. Mohammed Jauhar - Ambassador to Kuwait
• A.S.U Mendis - Ambassador to the Korea
• S. Shanika Dissanayake - Ambassador to Jordan
• W.G.S. Prasanna - Ambassador to Vietnam
• Himalee Arunatilaka - Ambassador to Nepal
• Lakshitha Ratnayaka - Ambassador to Cuba
• P.R.S. Sugeeshwara Gunaratna - Ambassador to Ethiopia 
• D.P.C.W. Karunaratne - Ambassador to Lebanon

The High Posts Committee has also approved the appointments of several other professionals to foreign missions;

• President’s Counsel J. C. Weliamuna - High Commissioner to Australia
• Former Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Kapila Jayampathy (Rtd.) - High Commissioner to Malaysia
• Former Additional Surveyor General Nimal Karunaratne
  - Ambassador to Maldives
• Kithsiri Athulathmudali - Ambassador to Qatar

According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the percentage of career diplomats heading Sri Lankan missions overseas will increase upto 54 percent following these appointments.