Demand to address the unjust backlog of Foreign Service recruitments

New recruits to Sri Lanka Foreign Service at the training programme offered by the Government of India, while the remaining eligible candidates await a positive response regarding their positions 

Candidates who participated in the selection process for the Sri Lanka Foreign Service have raised concerns regarding the recruitment procedure

In total, 117 candidates passed the interview and the final list was prepared on merit-basis

According to a press release, the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance initially requested that only 20 vacancies be filled, citing budget constraints

Sri Lankan Foreign Service Grade III candidates seek justice following the authorities’ oversight in appointing only 20 candidates among the eligible 40 professionals who had qualified, depriving them of their rightful positions.

Candidates who participated in the selection process for the Sri Lanka Foreign Service that announced the recruitment of 40 vacancies, have raised several concerns regarding the recruitment procedure outlined in Gazette No. 2223, dated April 9, 2021. The Gazette initially called for applications to fill 40 vacancies in Grade III of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, with a selection process that involved a written examination followed by a competency interview. Final selections were to be made based on the aggregate marks obtained. In total, 117 candidates passed the interview, and once their scores were submitted to the Department of Examinations, the final list was prepared on merit-basis.

BUDGET CONSTRAINTS

According to a press release, the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance initially requested that only 20 vacancies be filled, citing budget constraints and the inability to allocate funds for 40 new appointees. However, the Public Service Commission (PSC) chose to disregard this request, deciding to proceed with the recruitment since there was no evidence justifying the reduction in vacancies. In response, the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance confirmed that approval had been granted to recruit 40 officers in 2024 and 20 officers in 2025 in order to facilitate the smooth execution of duties. Financial provisions for the recruitment process included Rs. 11,248 million allocated for personnel emoluments in 2024, with Rs. 9,971 million incurred out of the allocated provisions Rs. 11,506 million in 2023 for the same. The Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Ministry is expected to fill the essential vacancies while managing the required expenditure within the allocated provisions for 2024.

Despite submitting the list of the top 40 candidates to the PSC, only the first 20 individuals from the list were appointed on June 10, 2024, leaving the remaining 20 vacancies unfilled with no further communication from the authorities. Upon inquiry, the PSC stated that they could proceed with appointing the remaining candidates if a recommendation from the Foreign Secretary was received. However, no such recommendation has been made despite inquiries directed at both the Foreign Ministry Secretary and the PSC’s recruitment authorities. The last recruitment for Grade III of the Sri Lankan Foreign Service took place in 2018, with no appointments through the examination process until 2024. As the authorities continue to delay the appointment of the remaining candidates, the foreign services continue to struggle with staffing shortages and inefficiency.

The candidates have expressed their dissatisfaction for several reasons. Firstly, although the Gazette specified 40 vacancies and 40 candidates had qualified, only 20 candidates (2020/2024) were ultimately appointed, leaving the others without positions. Secondly, the last competitive examination for this recruitment was held in 2018, leading to a substantial backlog of vacancies. Additionally, candidates pointed out that the marks they received in both the written examination and the interview were not disclosed; leaving them unaware of their individual performance.

In light of these concerns, the relevant authorities have been urged to take several actions. These include publishing the marks obtained by all candidates in both the written examination and the interview to ensure transparency in the selection process. It has further been requested that all 40 vacancies, as initially outlined in the Gazette, be filled using the pool of 117 candidates who participated in the final interview. Lastly, the authorities have been urged to address the existing vacancies in Grade III of the Foreign Service from the 117 candidates.

Critics opine that by taking thesesteps, the authorities can promote fairness and transparency in the recruitment process as there is an increasing demand to ensure that all deserving individuals are given equal opportunities in the Sri Lanka Foreign Service. A petition (SC/FR Application No. 163/2024) regarding the above matter has been filed by Mohamed Rasheed Fathima Sajeeda et al against respondents including Mr. Sanath J. Ediriweera, Chairman of PSC and Mrs. Aruni Wijewardane, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs et al.

Previously, reports suggested that political affiliations were altering decisions in consulates, which led to a Cabinet decision to revoke politically influenced appointments. While this is a major victory for justice, qualified professionals, eligible for appointments as officers in the Foreign Service still await their rightful positions, urging President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to promptly address this concern.