The continuous political appointments to Sri Lanka’s diplomatic missions abroad have been challenged in the Supreme Court. Former career diplomat Kalyananda Godage yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights Application seeking to establish a competent and eligible Foreign Diplomatic Service devoid of politicisation.

FR case No. 590/2008 was filed yesterday as a piece of public interest litigation, with the Foreign Minister, Foreign Secretary, Prime Minister, the cabinet of ministers, the Public Service Commission and the Attorney General being cited as respondents in the case.

The Supreme Court will decide on whether the case is to be granted leave to proceed on December 19.

The petitioner is a retired diplomat who served for many years in diplomatic service in various countries.

The petition challenges political appointments made to the country’s overseas missions apart from those made regarding heads of department or ambassadorial positions in those missions, charging that such appointments are a violation of the 17th Amendment to the constitution which stipulates that such appointments must be made by the Public Service Commission.

The petition states that the professionalism of a country’s diplomatic service is vital to its national interest and it is only a professional with competent training in diplomacy who could represent the country effectively.

The Foreign Service should be confined to well-trained professionals for that task, the petition says, adding that appointing outsiders who do not possess such training violates the Fundamental Rights of the petitioner and the citizens of the country.