The country needs the correct person as the new Foreign Minister
Posted on August 7th, 2017
Dr Sudath Gunasekara 6.8.2017.
Now that the days of RK as F/Minister are numbered the President has to choose a new man acceptable to the people and to the world at large at this critical hour who can face the challenges ahead of this position in time to come.
After Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranayaka and Luxman Kadiragamar I cannot think of any other who had fit in well to the shoes of that much coveted position. Had Lalith Atulathmudali lived I would have definitely suggested his name for this place without any hesitation. Everybody knows how appalling the record of the field of Foreign Affairs had been in the recent two years under the last F/Minister. About the incumbent I want comment as he got in to serious trouble owing to his misdeeds in the M/Finance even before he could pix his alignments in the new place.
The position of foreign Minister in any country in contemporary world politics calls for the highest attainments. Almost all countries often appoint men of the highest attainments and caliber as their foreign Ministers. The only country I think that does not follow this rule is Sri Lanka. Very often F/Ministers succeed as Prime Ministers in their countries. I still remember Krishna Menon of India, though he did not succeed Nehru, in our student days. How versatile. Silver tongued and flamboyant he was both at home and abroad is still a living legend.
A Foreign Minister is the one who represents his country and its image and interests in other countries. To do so effectively he /she should be a person well versed in the history, culture and the problems and needs of his country. He should also be a person who will defend and protect the interests of his own country and stand for it to the end. For this he needs to be a patriot of the first order.
To achieve these ends he has to be a man of high stature and character in addition to very high academic attainments and charisma. The ability to address any forum at least in one world language and convince any intellectual crowd, and a distinguished record either in arts, science, law or any other, are some of the other qualifications that could be mentioned as pre requisites for this assignment.
In spite of not so visible colourful performance to his credit in the field of politics, I think the best person to hold this position at the present juncture among all others in the Cabinet is Minister Sarath Amunugama who is wasting his times as Minister Special Assignments at present with no assignment at all.
As a person who has worked very closely with him as a relatively junior colleague both at district and National level for three decades starting in late 1960s, I know about his special abilities and attainments as well as achievements as a brilliant and colourful young Civil Servant more that any. The best period we were together was when he was AGA and ADDL GA Kandy and I was DRO Udadumbara, Sarath at that time was a model of a people friendly Civil Servant
The fact that he also comes from a Sri Lankan traditional village background and happens to be a product of the Trinity College Kandy, which produced the best Foreign Minister Sri Lanka had ever produced, that is Luxman Kadiragama, in my view, makes him the best person, out of all Ministers in the present Cabinet, to fill this gap.
Therefore as a responsible citizen of this country, who yearn for the good of the motherland, I wish the President will make the correct choice at this crucial juncture so that, Sarath the brilliant ex-Civil Servant, with the able new Secretary Prasad, will clean up the Augean mess that is the Foreign Ministry at the moment, and he will also have an able, reliable and dependable F/M who will never betray the country and will definitely deliver the goods.
August 6th, 2017 at 5:50 pm
F/Minister INDEED!
Brilliant, Sudath! Masterful Understatement!
August 6th, 2017 at 5:56 pm
I say MOVE BEYOND the current coterie of JADED politicians and APPOINT Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara as next Foreign Minister!
A PATRIOT Par Excellence who has represented and defended our Motherland in various hostile International Forums, I can think of NO BETTER PERSON to be the Next Foreign Minister!
August 6th, 2017 at 7:33 pm
It was unfortunate that we lost Mr. Kadiraggamar. He was very respected in Europe and America. During Mr. Bernard Gunatilake was Ambassadors to US we had planned to have a meeting to organize something to counter LTTE propaganda and I was leaving work and on the way I heard on the radio the death our beloved FM’s death. That was one of the saddest day. I agree with Sudath that Lalith Athulathmudali would have been excellent. In that case anyone could have been better than this stupid idiot Avamangala. I hope Maru Sira will realize this.
August 7th, 2017 at 3:53 am
I agree with Ananda. Rear admiral Sarath Weerasekera a brilliant son of mother lanka would be a fine selection but have doubt with this Yamapalanaya evil clique. We need a foreign minister who loves his mother land not a stooge of the west or some countries who dictate to us in foreign affairs. Ravi and Awamangalya both were Stooges of the west and were traitors to our Motherland. Both failed in their duties. Both were unpopular with the majority public. They were both darlings of the Tamil diaspora. Better if the whole Yamapalanaya hang resign and give someone who can do the job to rescue our beloved Motherland from more disasters. A president without backbone and Ali Baba Prime minister both should be kicked out sooner than later for the good of the country.
August 7th, 2017 at 4:36 am
Dr Sudath
Whe you were in the public servant did you have the poer to appoint your own Peon.
India will choose whoever they want as they have don in choosing Sirisena the Head Peon.
August 7th, 2017 at 1:21 pm
Agree that Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera would be a good choice for the post of Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka.
August 7th, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Ananda,
Regarding above
I fully agree with you comments But he is not with the Government Other thing is even if he agrees I wonder whether President Sirisena will have the brain and the brawn to take such a decision. He might definitely see MR ghost within Sarath above all his merits
Sarath is even fit to be elected as the President of this country But knowing Sarath closely, even if he is offered I doubt whether he will agree to join this gang of outright traitors and fools who are fast sinking in the Indian Ocean.
Sudath G.
August 8th, 2017 at 5:42 am
We have to start with President and Prime Minister portfolios. Get the right people for these and others will follow. When you have two jokers heading the country, what to expect of the rest.
August 8th, 2017 at 9:59 am
The long and the short of it all :
RW’s foreign made “Crash & Sell” program is being followed by his minions.
Why did Sirisena appoint RW as the EXEC PM ??
Again, foreign made plans !