Lanka revamping its foreign service: Minister

Sri Lanka is "reviewing" the presence of its diplomatic missions abroad, the foreign minister today said, amid allegations that the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa regime had filled the key posts with political appointees.
Addressing a gathering here, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said his ministry was looking to set up missions in new regions while planning to close unimportant resident missions.
"Last week, I opened our mission in Ethiopia. It is now an important capital in the African continent," Samaraweera said.
"We will review and look at non performing missions for further action," he added.
The Maithripala Sirisena government has taken steps to close down some of the missions opened by the previous administration of Mahinda Rajapaksa, which has been accused of filling Foreign Service with political appointees.

Samaraweera said the present government's policy is to appoint 70 per cent career diplomats in foreign service and allocate only 30 per cent for political appointments.
Yet some of the political appointment made by the current government have also been subject to criticism.
The Sirisena government has shut the High Commission in Uganda opened during the Rajapaksa regime.