Nine new ambassadors appointed

The Government on Wednesday (24) appointed nine new ambassadors for countries including the Brazil, Thailand, Sweden, and Netherlands.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier announced that 33 persons have been nominated to fill vacant Heads of Mission posts overseas but withheld their names pending approvals from the respective countries.

Ministry spokesperson Mahishini Colonne at the press briefing today said nine countries have approved the government’s nominees. 

“As of now, we have received agrément for nominees from nine countries and we can formally announce these names today.” 

“They have also received the clearance of the Parliamentary Committee on High Posts. They are expected to take up their posts shortly, once they complete the Orientation programme and other formalities,” she said.

All nominees except for the Ambassadors to Brazil and Qatar and High Commissioner to Pakistan are career foreign service personnel.

General Jagath Jayasuriya- ambassador to Brazil
Former Foreign Secretary Kshenuka seneviratne- ambassador to Thailand 
R.D. Rajapaksa- ambassador to Sweden 
Y.K.A. Rohanajith- ambassador to Iran 
G. Selvaraj- ambassador to Israel
A.M.J. Sadiq- ambassador to Netherlands 
W.M. Karunadasa- ambassador to Qatar
H.A.V. Dissanayake- ambassador to Vietnam

Last February, the foreign ministry recalled more than 50 diplomats from its missions overseas, citing that some of them were political appointments and some non-career diplomats.