A head-on confrontation between Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera has become inevitable after officials in the Foreign Ministry and Foreign Service have continue to defy the PM.
Ranil and Mangala
After tensions between the two began to mount, Wickremesinghe has said he will raise all the pertinent issues with Samaraweera when he returns to Colombo. He is now on a tour of Japan where he has received an overwhelming welcome and the honour of addressing Diet, their parliament.
The sharp difference first came to the fore before the Prime Minister’s visit to India. He had sought a detailed brief from officials in the Foreign Ministry. What he received shocked him. A senior official in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat told Colombo Telegraph even a GCE (OL) student could have written a better report than the puerile one the PM received. The Prime Minister announced publicly that in future he will not seek any report from any official in the Foreign Ministry nor take anyone from there on his foreign visits.
The Indian visit took place without any Foreign Ministry representative. Even the current Japan visit saw no one from this Ministry taking part. After these two events, things have been on the increase.
This official said Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has also been upset over the conduct of Sri Lanka Ambassador in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha. This had come after reports were received alleging that he had been briefing via secret telephone calls at least two persons, a former diplomat and a Minister, regularly matters relating to the UN Human Rights Council. Such inputs had been included in opposition statements. Aryasinha was a strong loyalist of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Foreign Minister, G.L. Peiris and a close friend of Dayan Jayatilleka, former Ambassador to Geneva. In the recent months he has cultivated Foreign Minister Samaraweera and had claimed he could get anything done by him.
Another official who had repeatedly defied the Prime Minister, it is alleged, is the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chitranganee Wagiswara referred to by officials at the FO as the “Ayah Amma.” She had refused to sign an agreement with America to obtain legal assistance using an excuse that cabinet has not given approval. The Prime Minister’s Secretariat official said “she was pulled up” and the PM ordered that the offer is accepted. There were other officials also who have been identified for their lackadaisical attitude towards the PM and his office.
Mangala Samaraweera has been bitter that he was given only the Foreign Affairs portfolio and denied the subject of telecommunications. It was the latter portfolio he used to provide jobs for those from his electorate. After he was denied a second subject, Samaraweera has told close friends, he made a request from the President Maithripala Sirisena. He has wanted to give him an additional portfolio. Samaraweera has alleged to his friends that Prime Minister’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake telephoned President’s Secretary Abeykoon and told him not to give anything to Samaraweera.
Some officials in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat are asking whether Samaraweera himself is getting his officials to be indifferent. These officials dismissed reports that all was well between the Foreign Minister and the PM. He has been ignoring requests made by the Prime Minister with regard to Foreign Office persons, these officials said.
Barathan / October 6, 2015
From 1948 to 1977, Prime Minister was in charge of the subjects of Defence and External Affairs. Without much ado PM can revert to half the earlier arrangement and be in charge of External Affairs. After a violent shake up, officials will know where to stand.
/
S,Sivathasan / October 6, 2015
Today a Tamil news web reported the Prime Minister’s statement in Japan of creating a new Foreign Service for Sri Lanka. If the report be accurate, there can’t be no better tidings. It is absolutely practicable to do away with the mentally superannuated and the non-career ones. The younger generation selected on merit through open competition will remain knowing well that a government that means business will look for competence.
Nehru created a new Foreign Service and appointed KPS Menon, ICS as the first Foreign Secretary in April 1948.He remained in that post for four and a half years. Nehru was Minister Foreign Affairs from 1947 till his death in 1964.
KPS Oxford First in History was first in ICS. He lent lustre to the office. His friend Sir Kanthiah Vaithianathan was Secretary Defence and External Affairs in Ceylon.
An anecdote to illustrate Nehru’s polished way of showing the ascendancy of the Prime Minister. On an issue concerning the government’s stance about the Commonwealth, ICS officers had views which were at variance with Nehru’s strong ideas. KPS was the spokesman. Nehru having heard him responded,”KPS you have done horse riding. In it what counts are the first five minutes. Either you decide or the horse decides for you”.
The ascendancy of the political master was conveyed in a few words. In Sri Lanka action has to rub it in.
/
Walt / October 7, 2015
Alas the pundit was an old goat who loved logic and riding that horse On the contrary
Chinese Zhou Enlai did not bother about logical necessity in human affairs – Indo-China war which Hindia lost. Modi almost got hit- India has enough and more vacuum for communist to land.
He was so good that all Indian women were cavity checked for virginity at UK airport till 1968 when the labour government did away with it.
Now even Desi Americans cavity check the ICS.
Sir Kanthiah Vaithianathan was from stock & class compared to the running after Ambulance foreign service diplomats with the Appe Anduva Appe Ratta.
/
Vetmahadeva / October 7, 2015
During Indian visit by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry officials came under very heavy criticism,of Indian media just after Indian Minister External Affairs,Sushma Swaraj called on the Visiting Premier at the guest residence.
The heavy criticism was for sitting arrangements for that rendezvous was such that it appeared that as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called on Indian Minister External Affairs and not other way around, secondly, a Head of a visiting Government delegation was not given a Center Chair rest of the seats spanning out both sides, instead both Prime Minister and Indian Minister for External Affairs seated side be side and India media claimed that it was a doubled insult Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, cooked by the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry officials, and branded this an elementary school mistake on the part of SLFM officials, who always had to look after the status dignity protocols of the visiting dignities. Some Indian media claimed this as a connivance to topple the National Government!
/
Agnos / October 7, 2015
Mr. Sivathasan,
Can the same be said about more recent Indian
politicians vs the South Block? What has it done differently under Modi? They remain the same perfidious people who imagine themselves as great Chanakyas.
/
kumaran / October 6, 2015
This is the trouble with “ourmangala”. [Edited out]
/
Rupathy / October 6, 2015
The photo above gives a very clear picture.
/
Amarasiri / October 6, 2015
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
“The Prime Minister announced publicly that in future he will not seek any report from any official in the Foreign Ministry nor take anyone from there on his foreign visits.”
Test them. If they cannot achieve certain basic standards, transfer to positions they can perform adequately, like selling at the CWE Store or making them bus conductors?
Another problem? What do you with the current CWE sales people and bus conductors?
Q. What do you do when the average IQ of a country is 79? Some of them end up in the Foreign Ministry.
Some end up being MPs. Some even ministers. Some even as Presidents!
Welcome to the Land of Native Veddah Aethho, occupied by Paras from India.
/
Native Vedda / October 6, 2015
Ranil Wickremesinghe
If the External Affairs Ministry is not fit for the purpose, I suggest you abolish it.
“A senior official in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat told Colombo Telegraph even a GCE (OL) student could have written a better report than the puerile one the PM received.”
If that is the case Ranil should appoint Daham as his key foreign affairs adviser, given that Daham has completed a stint at UN, he is the most qualified diplomat than any of the serving ones at the ministry.
/
Jango / October 6, 2015
One wonders at Maithripala’s reticence to get rid of Rajapakse loyalists in his administration and to appoint individuals who are more qualified for their posts and have no ties to the Rajapakses.
Hasn’t he seen from the recent ‘cut-outs’ debacle that those creepy characters who worshipped Rajapakse and abused him openly are not doing him any favours?
Ranil will also have to put things in order in the Foreign Affairs Ministry to ensure there is discipline and integrity in those appointed to serve, instead of having individuals with vested interests and loyalties elsewhere.
Time for a massive ‘clean-up’ – better late than never!!
/
Barathan / October 6, 2015
A Buddhist monk’s advice to a hurt snake “If you are ahimsic, you need not have stung the man, but at least why didn’t you show your hood?”
President can show his spine not by dismissing, but by surcharge, if government money was involved.
/
Mahen / October 6, 2015
Two problems do exist.
1) the quality of Srilankan civil service had fallen to rock bottom since merit was usurped and allegiance and obeisance were considerd the only qualifications for selection over the past forty years. How do you expect these officers to produce intelligent analysis on any subject let alone foreign affairs?
2) the vestiges left in presidents office, Prime ministers office and foreign service are still from the Galley slaves of the previous King of Ruhuna. How can you expect them to change? It is Ranil’s naivety to expect professionalism from this lot. He should change them and appoint some merited officials if he can find some.
/
Off The Wall / October 6, 2015
Mr.CT
There’s no news here, nor any analysis – only gossip about ego problems from which CT too seems to suffering. You need urgent counseling and a refresher course in journalism.
/
S.Y. Karunaratne / October 6, 2015
It is better for Mangala Samaraweera to
[Edited out]
/
London Calling / October 6, 2015
Yes there are some more rouge elements in the Foreign. Ministry who continue to pass on information to the Mahinda Rajapaksa gang other than those mentioned above.Take Maheshini Colonne for example who also handles UN and human rights issues.It is an open secret that she worked hand in glove with the previous regime.She was part of a mafia in the foreign ministry that included Shenuka Seneviratne( appointed as Ambassador in Bangkok by the CURRENT government !!!) Then there is Majintha Jayasinghe , former Cheif of Protocol ( appointed as Deputy A mbassador in Malaysia by the CURRENT government !!!)Then there is Prasad Kariyawasam Ambassador in Washington( who’s services have been continued by the CURRENT government after he was appointed there by Mahinda Rajapaksa , his relative !!! )The man cannot speak proper English and he is supposed to get his English checked by a junior official now in the foreign ministry, who was once his deputy in New Delhi. All the above the above gang of 4 were well known Sajin Vass Gunawardena loyalists.( Prasad denied seeing Sajin slap Nonis in New York, even though he was seated right next to Nonis !!!.By the way Maheshini Colonnes brother a Gotabaya Rajapaksa lackey continues to work in the Defence Ministry.
Then there is ALA Aziz, a notorious Sajin Vass Gunawardena stooge who is been kept on as Ambassador in Austria,( by the CURRENT government!!!) Then there is Chanka Talpehewa in London.He was hand picked by Sajin for London so that he would assist Yoshitha R bring spare partis free of duty using the ‘ Rush Tag ” privilege on Srilankan flights.( he is kept on in London by the CURRENT government !!!)Yes it is business as usual for all of them by courtesy of the CURRENT government !!!! All the above will remain loyal to MR because they benefitted so much by been part of the gang for ten years ( 2005-2015)
So how can the Prime Minister or Foreign. Minister or President get their policies implemented when such cronies of the previous regime are still entrenched in the Foreign Ministry in very important positions ?Does it need Albert Einstein to answer this question ?
/
paragon / October 6, 2015
In politics these thing happen.these TWO BOYS RANIL AND MANGALA we hope will sort our this problem between them when they have one to one meeting under temple trees after dinner.
/
Vibhushana / October 6, 2015
Clashes of this nature are natural in any environment. I suspect its more bitter and nasty in poorer countries where access to resources are limited.
Thats is probably why someone like Mahinda Rajapaske was better at achieving real outcomes. He could just bulldoze over everyone and get things done.
Its unfair for Mangala Samaraweera to expect 2 ministries when its a large cabinet. Although I am sure he is thinking of his own survival since he cannot raise his local profile with the External Affairs Ministry.
Mangala Samaraweera needs to fall inline nevertheless in the interest of his party. If not things will fail, Mahinda Rajapaske will enter the scene again and he will lose even the FM position he presently has.
/
Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / October 6, 2015
Contrary to this report, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasingha has not been in direct or indirect communication with me for many years. In fact I cannot remember when he last communicated with me.
Furthermore, though our personal equation has always been cordial and friendly, neither one of us would regard the other as a “close friend”– as this report suggests. I would however regard his predecessor Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam as a close friend and comrade.
/
Dankotuwa Manike / October 6, 2015
Dayan
Best Defence in an hopeless situation.
Who else is your comrade. How about your mentors Mahinda, Gota, Basil and pussycat Namal?
You are still to write masala dosa and kata sambol about Namal .
Keep it up.
/
Nimal / October 6, 2015
In Sinhala we call this “Gal palena boru”. (a lie that can crack rocks).
/
mowish / October 6, 2015
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING FOR LETTING DOWN THE GENERAL PUBLIC. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT WAS FORMED WITH ALL THE MUCK.
PEOPLES VERDICT WAS IGNORED….. NOW THERE WILL BE MORE OF THIS FROM WITHIN
BEST OF LUCK
/
K.A Sumanasekera / October 6, 2015
HeHeHeHeHeheeeee,
Baththudeen gets 39 Govt Ministries run joints. And poor Mangalan can’t even get even one to put his buddies in…….
/
NIRMALA N / October 6, 2015
How come Mangala was in England to dine with Suren Surendran on 4th October before he flew to Japan.
Is Suren Surendran the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK.
Who is funding Suren Surendran to have so much influence over Tamil issues to the extent of them throwing money to the TNA.
Is the Tamil Diaspora dumfounded fools to be walked over by the 5 men club GTF which is the extension of the LTTE UK branches UTO to BTA and BTF.
Time has come to expose the shady dealings of the GTF and wider Diaspora taking a stand against the GTF’s gang of 5.
/
Karum Puli / October 7, 2015
Dear Nirmala Acca
Well said.
/
R K Raghavan / October 8, 2015
[Edited out]
/
Don Quixote / October 6, 2015
Are the Mangala’s stooges or GL / Vaas Gunawardena’s stooges ?
I have noticed that CT is specializing in “shit stirring” with this new Government !
/
colin / October 6, 2015
Mangala is doing a good job so its best that he and the PM sink their differences.But dont forget that many of the officials in the FM were appointed by the previous regime so some of their loyalties could be questionable. Its not practicable to downgrade the existing personnel but what Mangala could do is to streamline the FM and revamp the place. For instance a consulate in a Western country is still using an archaic method of issuing receipts carbon copy and all its time the whole method is computerised in keeping with worldwide trends.
Ranil and Mangala are doing good in the international scene patching up all the bad publicity we had in the past so in a similar vein they should patch up their differences (if it does exist) for the betterment of the nation
/
shankar / October 6, 2015
“Mangala Samaraweera has been bitter that he was given only the Foreign Affairs portfolio and denied the subject of telecommunications. It was the latter portfolio he used to provide jobs for those from his electorate”
These type of nonsense has got to stop.Jobs in the public sector should be given only on merit otherwise we will be just talking about singapore etc and never coming even close to it.The special commissions as per the 19th amendment must start functioning quickly and politicians should be kept in their proper place in the future which is to serve the country,not their electorate only at the expense of the rest of the country.In future a holistic approach is needed.
Any minister would have his plate full and stressed out with the foreign ministry portfolio,especially with the problems the rajapakshes have created for us with the international community.Mangala looks like a dead man walking already and he wants another portfolio just to stuff it with the buggers who worked for him at the election.So in future scrap the O levels and A levels and universities and just tell the people to work hard for their representatives if they want to get jobs in the public sector.
/
Pucci / October 6, 2015
Sir, you spend more out of Sri Lanka, you go on any foreign junket, without a bat of an eyelid.
On TOP of this you have the brass to ask for another portfolio to pack it with your electorate.
I hope you loose the next election.
You’ve done nothing for the country on the overseas front, apart from accumulaing frequent flyer miles.
Just do one job properly without letting greed get the better of you & wanting more.
Surprising, you didn’t run to your old boss CBK who you cast aside, when MRwas running for President.
She has NO friends now & is clinging onto her old codgers like the infamous Padma Maharaja.
/
EDWIN RODRIGO / October 6, 2015
This exposes a majorss of the present Govt compared to the previous. In the previous Govt MR was in full control and no body dared to disobey him.
In comparison, in this Govt. every Tom, Dick and Harry (and Jane) does what he/she wants caring not even two hoots for the leaders.
/
Daham / October 6, 2015
People haven’t seen Ranil’s wife Maitree when he was the opposition leader. She is everywhere after Ranil became the prime minister. Wonder why? Did he get married recently after the elections?
/
PhD / October 6, 2015
Ranil is not a saint and he has no principles either. Otherwise how can he go on a trip to Japan together with a corrupt politician like Susil Premajayantha who’s behaviour is utter disgusting.
/
John / October 6, 2015
For God’s sake sort this mess out as you have had enough delebrations with all parties involved, in making the new joint Gosl function, taking into account the obvious discrepancies in its unique formation. Please do not let down the public who elected you to office despite all obstacles faced and SORT OUT your differences even by legistlation if necessary. The adage that the ‘old guard’ are blocking all reforms including action on those guilty of offences, cannot hold true much longer. The country wanted CHANGE and YOU need to deliver to the people before too long.
/
Kumar Navaratne / October 6, 2015
The Foreign Ministry seems to have done little
or nothing over PM Wickremesinghe’s visit to
Japan. Not even the address to the Parliament.
Looks like the Foreign Ministry is there
only to promote Mangala Samaraweera and his
own interests.
/
CHANAKYAN / October 6, 2015
An infertile woman cannot deliver a child goes a Tami saying. So too incompetent officials can’t prepare an address.
/
Native Vedda / October 6, 2015
CHANAKYAN
Are you suggesting Ranil should appoint Daham Sirisena the next Foreign Secretary?
/
renu / October 6, 2015
On a number of occasions it was brought up that Ravinatha Ariyasinghe is a stooge of the Former President and he should be removed from UNHCR. He could be a headache to the present Government as he has been passing vital information to MR . Give a good clean up to the Foreign Ministry, Get rid of Ayah Amma. Ranil has to do this with Mangala if Good governance is to prevail
/
iemerald / October 6, 2015
SACK THE[Edited out] IF HE DISSENTS. SIMPLE RANIL. DONT LET THESE IDIOTS RULE. REMEMBER PEOPLE VOTED FOR YOU FOR YAHAPALANAYE.
YAHAPALANAYE IS ALL ABOUT ROOTING OUT CORRUPT POWER CRAZY IDIOTS AND YHIEVES FROM HIGH POSITIONS.
/
meezan / October 6, 2015
Mangala initially cut a clandestine deal with Whisky Madam to topple MahaJaraaPakse. For this, they needed Ranil as a dummy catalyst. Now that Ranil has displeasured Mangala by not giving him an additional portfolio and the rift between them is growing, Mangala will now turn to his only option available. In will walk Whisky Madam again. Time for the UK trained Vet Putha to step into Silly Lanka’s ugly politics?
/
Janaka Fernando / October 6, 2015
Everybody know that Ravinatha Aryasinha was a strong loyalist of Mahinda Rajapaksa, G.L. Peiris and a close friend of Dayan Jayatilleka. The foreign ministry and the minister Mangala Samaraweera must be a damn fool to retain Ravinatha Aryasinha as an Ambassador in Geneva. Looks like the Foreign Ministry officials are taking Mangala Samaraweera for a ride.
It is high time that the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe should Intervene and clear the mess. Not only the foreign ministry, most of the ministries are still lead by loyalists of Mahinda Rajapaksa. The President and Prime Minister should work together in getting rid of all the unwanted people. Clear the mess before they create havoc.
/
Antany Peter / October 6, 2015
Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry has issues, but nobody is willing to do anything about it. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has a design degree, but Sri Lankans who have extensive knowledge in world affairs can’t even get a job within the Foreign Ministry. Recently, the Foreign Ministry has advertised a position for ‘Research Officer’ in Sunday Observer. I have applied for the job, but no reply. It is a shame for Sri Lanka and Asia. I have done researches on the Western Power, Asian giants’ weakness & divisions, and Australian & Canadian Indigenous people’s issues. I have a business degree and business diplomas from Australia. I have travelled to more than twenty five countries and lived in four continents. I have read hundreds of books to understand world history, cultures, languages, capitalism, democracy, communism, global economics and international politics. However, I am going nowhere in Asia, especially in South Asia. Smart Asians are going nowhere in Asia, especially in South Asia; is it a curse or shame for the billions of Asians in the 21st century?
/
colin / October 6, 2015
Mr.Peter please dont bring your frustrations to this forum.The trouble with people of your category is that with a string of qualifications against your name you feel that you deserve to be appointed. You are one of those pundits and it reminds me of a foreign minister whom we had in the recent past who was considered one of the best products his school had produced in the last 75 years and highly qualified but became an absolute flop as FM. In contrast a FM of an administration of the seventies who had no qualifications against his name was labelled as one of the most successful FM of our country in keeping with the Lakshman Kadirgamar type.
This doesnt mean that qualifications should not be a criteria but not the sole criteria.If qualifications had been the criteria with the brilliant economists studded all over Europe the continent should have been booming by following their theories, but is it? recession has gripped Europe and its reeling economic wise except for Germany.
/
Psycho / October 6, 2015
Ranil should flush out all Bathist, just like what US did to Sadam catchers.
/
Native Vedda / October 7, 2015
Psycho
“Ranil should flush out all Bathist, just like what US did to Sadam catchers.”
You mean acid bath and then flush out?
/