By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera 

The Foreign Ministry is faced with severe financial and staff shortage at present, where only 84 individuals have been recruited to diplomatic service during the past ten years, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasooriya said yesterday.

He told Parliament that there were only 177 diplomatic officials, whereas the actual diplomatic cadre strength is 264.
Speaking during the Committee stage debate on the Foreign Ministry, he said the Ministry was taking steps to recruit some 40 officers by July next year.
The Minister also said the Foreign Ministry is faced with severe financial issues as the funds allocated to the Ministry were cut down gradually over the last few years whereas more funds should be allocated, given the depreciation of the rupee against the Dollar.

“US$56 million was allocated to the Foreign Ministry in 2018. We have spent US$35 million so far this year. Only US$24 million had been allocated from the budget for 2023” he said. 

The Minister also said some two million Sri Lankans were residing overseas and that Sri Lanka had not obtained their support effectively and added that the Foreign Ministry in collaboration with the Presidential Secretariat would establish an Overseas Sri Lankan Office to keep in touch with them.

He said a group of Diaspora from Canada arrived in the country and added that another group from England was set to arrive shortly.