Foreign Ministry under pressure for appointments to politicos’ relatives?

• In the foreign service, there are 98 vacancies to be filled, both at 55 Sri Lankan missions abroad and the Ministry in Colombo
• It is learnt that the son of former Minister MP Dissanayake and the close relative of Education Minister Susil Premajayantha are among those seeking posts

By Kelum Bandara

The Foreign Ministry is once again under pressure for the appointment of various ruling party politicians’ relatives to diplomatic posts, Daily Mirror learns.

In the foreign service, there are 98 vacancies to be filled, both at 55 Sri Lankan missions abroad and the Ministry in Colombo. Daily Mirror learns that the politicians with links to the government had sought to secure posts for their relatives, including children.

The approved cadre of the foreign service is 264. However, only 166 have been filled resulting in 98 vacant slots. It is learnt that the son of former Minister MP Dissanayake and the close relative of Education Minister Susil Premajayantha are among those seeking posts.