Focus has been drawn to the manner in which ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions residing in Colombo have been directly booking appointments for delegations visiting Sri Lanka to meet local ministers, dignitaries, and senior officials.
Since this action is contrary to accepted diplomatic protocol and procedure, the Alliance Division of the Foreign Ministry should be informed in advance regarding the programmes that are required for those delegations in the future, a revised circular issued by the Presidential Secretariat said.
The revised circular states that accordingly, the Alliance Division of the Foreign Ministry will arrange a suitable time for these required appointments by the foreign delegations visiting the country, with the local authorities.
The revised circular has been issued regarding the interactions between Government Ministries and State institutions with foreign governments, international organizations, foreign diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka, and Sri Lankan diplomatic missions overseas.
This revised circular issued by the Presidential Secretariat replaces the previous circular No. PS/EAD/Circular/16/2022 issued by the Secretary to the President that was in force since January 9, 2023, and will be effective from January 1, 2025.
The revised circular has been addressed to Ministry Secretaries, Provincial Chief Secretaries, and Provincial Governor’s Secretaries. This new procedure will have to be followed effective January 1, 2025, by Governors and Provincial Ministers.
As such, requests for direct appointments by ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions resident in Sri Lanka for themselves or their mission staff to meet Sri Lankan Governors or Provincial Ministers must be directed to the Alliance Division of the Foreign Ministry.
Also, when visiting foreign officials or ambassadors and heads of foreign missions residing in Colombo want to meet the President, Prime Minister, or Ministers, they will need to seek advice from the Foreign Ministry regarding the appropriate level at which such meetings should be conducted.
The revised circular states that officials holding lower-level positions in embassies and foreign missions, including the United Nations, should not make arrangements to meet the President or the Prime Minister.
The Ministries and State institutions have been informed in the revised circular that they should not issue any type of media statement regarding foreign policy and foreign relations, as well as matters related to foreign countries, without an official written clearance from the Foreign Ministry.
