Diplomats told to hunt for foreign investors

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An advisor, who once worked in the Finance Ministry and later moved to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, it has now come to light, was at the centre of a storm among Sri Lankan envoys overseas. Insiders say he succeeded in sending out at least four different circulars. At least one of them, they point out, was historic in post-independent Sri Lanka.

The circular laid down the number of FDIs (or Foreign Direct Investment) which each envoy would have to bring to Sri Lanka every month. It was on the basis of the grading of the missions. Even the less important one had two a month.

A witty Foreign Ministry official said that it was like asking Sri Lankan envoys to go behind would-be investors when ensuring the environment and stability in the country — one of the most essential factors for FDIs — is not within their capability. “What would our envoy in Cuba do? Can he ask Cuban businessmen to invest in Sri Lanka when the communist country itself is cash strapped?” Que Sara Sara, he said laughingly.

Another circular asked envoys to send in a daily report on developments in their countries of posting, with a weekly roundup thereafter.