FM over - rules the President

"His most recent action in this regard was to take a classmate on a jaunt at our expense to Shanghai where he has planted a foreign office bootlicker, who has not even passed his first efficiency bar examination."
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by Retired Diplomat

(December, 27, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Neither Bogollagama nor the government appears to understand the message they send out when they recall an Ambassador. They should at least, for their own sake and in their own interest, read Sir Edward Satow – it should be treated like the Bible by those in charge of our foreign affairs. A 'RECALL' is tantamount to our declaring our own Ambassador as Personna non grata!

Our Ambassador to the European Union has been recalled before his term expires. The people of this country have a right to know the reason for this action. When the Minister returned from a visit to Europe he recalled our Ambassador to France and our Ambassador to the EU without reason, merely because they had apparently (due to no fault on their part) been delayed to meet the very important personage on arrival; when all hell broke loose and he was over- ruled by the President himself, the recalls were cancelled. This amiable Minister is indeed a law unto himself and this is not good for the President for many feel that the President himself is obliged to the man to such an extent that he allows the man, not only to travel whereever he wants and whenever he wants and take with him whoever he wants. His most recent action in this regard was to take a classmate on a jaunt at our expense to Shanghai where he has planted a foreign office bootlicker, who has not even passed his first efficiency bar examination. The man who has antagonized all his colleagues in the Ministry by seeking to ride roughshod over them merely because he had cultivated a very close relationship with the Minister was appointed over many seniors to head a mission.

To revert to the main issue of the recall of the Ambassador to the EU, who is known for his ability and knowledge of commercial and economic matters, which have priority in our scheme of things and is so vital for the preservation of our national interests. We understand from reliable sources that Secretary was entirely satisfied with the performance of the Ambassador. We the public require an explanation from the Minister as to the reasons for the recall. We have a right to know.