Former Generals appointed to Diplomatic Service contrary to promise earlier

In contrary to the promise earlier that only Civil Officers will be appointed to Diplomatic posts, two recently retired Generals had been appointed as ambassadors.

Gen. Jagath Jayasooriya had been appointed as the High Commissioner to Brazil and Gen. Daya Rathnayake had been appointed as the High Commissioner for Pakistan.

Gen. Jayasooriya led Sri Lankan Army in Vanni at the height of the Vanni war. Both are supposed to be close to former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse. Earlier in Mahindha’s regime, such appointments were condemned as an attempt to militarize the diplomatic service. Now these appointments in that style had made the observers surprised.

Meanwhile 7 other ambassadors are appointed with one being a Tamil, P.Selvaraj had been appointed as the Ambassador to Israel.