President tells officials in overseas missions:

Play greater role in rebuilding country’s economy

Chaminda Perera

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that Sri Lankan officials in overseas missions will have to play a greater role in rebuilding the country’s economy. He was of the view that Sri Lankan mission officials who are overseas should deviate from traditional diplomatic practices.

The President made these observations at the presentation of credentials to 17 newly appointed Heads of Sri Lankan missions overseas at Temple Trees yesterday. They include 13 ambassadors and four High Commissioners.

President Rajapaksa opined that Sri Lankan diplomats in overseas missions should have a thorough knowledge ofn the present situation in the country.

He noted that Sri Lankan diplomats should acquire whatever assistance possible from the host country to promote the national economy. The President added that these officials should also have a proper understanding over assistance that can be provided from Sri Lanka and its private sector industry.

President Rajapaksa said that these officials are entrusted with the responsibility of finding more educational and employment opportunities to the Sri Lankan youth in their respective countries.

He added that Sri Lankan officials in overseas missions should promote relations with different social structures and influential groups in host countries. President Rajapasksa also said that Sri Lankan diplomats should boost the image of the country by educating the respective countries of the true situation of Sri Lanka.

He was of the view that these officials have a responsibility to defeat the malicious campaign being carried out by LTTE remnants in foreign countries against Sri Lanka by disseminating the true situation.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga said that the newly appointed officials for Sri Lankan missions have a vast experience in foreign service and many other fields.

Foreign Secretary Karunathilake Amunugama, added that these officials who would be posted to Sri Lankan missions overseas as high commissioners and ambassadors have extensive training in numerous fields.

He thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for providing guidance and facilities for this novel programme.

Amunugama added that these officials would visit Trincomalee, Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts and would study post conflict situation in those areas.

The Foreign Secretary added they will study on the peace and the development that has dawned to the North and the East in the aftermath of eradication of terrorism.

The new ambassadors are: Asitha Perera for Italy, W.W. Tissa Wijeratne for the Republic of Korea, C.A.H.M. Wijeratne for Kuwait, B.G.R. Uyangoda for People’s Republic of China, A.L.A. Aziz for Austria, Jayantha Palipana for Qatar, M.A.K. Girihagama for Oman , M.R. Gunaratne for Lebanon, Buddhi K. Athauda for the Netherlands, Sarath Kongahage for Germany, H.R. Piyasiri for Myanmar, General Shantha Kottegoda for Thailand and Oshadi Allahapperuma for Sweden.

The new high commissioners: T. Ravindiran for Kenya, Admiral T. S. G. Samarasinghe for Australia, Kalyananda Godage for Malaysia and Ferial Ashraff for Singapore.