With the recall of the friends and
family syndrome of the past Regime, where over 50 heads and deputy heads of
mission have been recalled, there is a huge vacuum within the Country’s foreign
missions of vacancies that currently do not even have temporary staffers
filling in the roles. This has created a serious problem in our handling of
important Diplomatic Issues as it relates to the Country, in a period of
critical need for notifying our friendly Countries as to what is going on
within this political process in Sri Lanka.
For example a Leader of a Country or his
Foreign Minister may have read in the news about this National Govt. consisting
of Governing and Opposition Members, in Sri Lanka and require some explanation
as to what is going on, and how they can understand the new structures.
You can bet your bottom dollar that the
current incumbents in the missions at Counsellor level have NO CLUE as to how
to explain the recent events. A senior diplomat in the form of an Ambassador or
his deputy would be sufficiently well versed in the political upheavals to
explain to them how this unique system of Govt. has come about after the earth
shattering changes that took place after the 8th January
Presidential Elections, when a sudden seismic shift or irruption for the
better, quite unprecedented in democratic governance, took place.
I am certain that many Countries would
wish Sri Lanka to go on this new route to democracy, but due to the inability
of our foreign service to engage in an analysis and explanation, they have not
been able to give our new democratic order the needful encouragement and
support.
These things happen just once in a
lifetime, and if we miss the bus, there is no method of recouping the lost
time. It is therefore essential that the External Affairs Ministry NOT DILLY
DALLY, but pick on a list of capable people with a clear and unblemished track
record, even from Industry or respected people to fill these roles, until the
Foreign Service can train and have sufficient capable people to fill these
positions in the longer term.
It would take the Foreign Service a minimum
of 5 years to train and get the right carder to the level of competence needed
for these positions and posts, so it is necessary to pick on respectable
leaders, preferably not from the Services or Tri forces to lead this charge on
behalf of the new Government. Please be on notice that for the sake of Good
Governance family members of serving Ministers and MPs must at all costs be
excluded.
I am not sure if the Ministers at this
level, are waiting for the Elections to be done and dusted to fill these
positions, as that would be too late, as time really is of the essence. Some
say recalling all these Ambassadors at once created the problem in the first
place, but I defer, as that was a necessary evil.