The government has decided to recall 16 diplomatic staffers appointed during the previous administration based on familial and political ties, with immediate effect.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that these officials have already been notified and are expected to return to Sri Lanka shortly.
Among those being recalled are Dr.Lalith Chandradasa, Consul General in Los Angeles, USA; Anura Fernando, Consul General in Shanghai, China; and Dr.D.Venkateshwaran, Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai, India. S.M.A.F.Moulana, who served as the Consul General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is also on the list.
Further steps have been taken to recall Nishan Manik Muthukrishna, who served as a Minister at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington,USA and Tharaka Dissanayake, who served as a Third Secretary.
Sanjay Punchinilame, Third Secretary at the Sri Lankan High Commission in London, has also been notified of his recall.
The recall list includes Sahasra Bandara, who served as Third Secretary in the Paris embassy, Melki Chandima Perera from the Rome Embassy and Dinuka Carmeline Fernando from the Canberra High Commission.
Additionally, Pandula de Soysa, Minister at the Moscow Embassy, Dr. Anwar Mohammad Hamdani, Minister Counsellor at the New Delhi High Commission, Priyangika Dissanayake, Third Secretary in Beirut and Yasmin Hilmi Mohamed, Second Secretary in Ankara, have also been ordered to return.
The government has also decided to recall Ashwini Hapangama, Counsellor at The Hague Embassy in the Netherlands and Janaka Ranatunga, Minister Counsellor in Stockholm, Sweden.
Plans are underway to recall more individuals appointed to diplomatic positions based on political connections.
(DailyNews)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by DailyNews has not been edited by SLM staff)
