Editorial The Morning

The recent circular PS/BS/Circular/1/2025 issued by the President’s Secretariat on interactions between State agencies and foreign missions in Colombo has raised concerns in both the diplomatic quarter and within the community of senior public officials about the Government’s intentions behind the move. The circular came from left field, and was neither a requirement raised on the political stage in the lead up to both key elections last year which brought the National People’s Power (NPP) Government into office, nor was there a public demand for such.

The move, which many elements of the Foreign Ministry was not aware of themselves, is a baffling development as to who exactly ‘wanted’ such guidelines to be strictly enforced. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is the principal State organ which should manage all diplomatic relations, the new limitations laid out by the new circular places unrealistic expectations on the MFA to ‘clear’ requests on a timely basis to ensure ongoing ‘business’ which require diplomatic input or consultation. Firstly, the MFA, which has been short staffed, and under-resourced in the past, is not known for speed of action or efficiency in responding to requests for linkage and to organised meetings between State actors and foreign missions. As such, the new guidelines which are in effect from 1 January, may come as a tilde wave of responsibility which the MFA, already stretched thin, will have to deal with. This, given that 2025 is still a year where Sri Lanka is in recovery mode, and with the dire need to attract investors and sustain sound bilateral and multilateral ties, will likely be a counterproductive measure by the Government.

However, given that the MFA and the Central Government hold control over diplomatic engagements, the decision to bar local government bodies from establishing direct contact with foreign missions, seems like a reasonable proposition. Nevertheless, some foreign missions who have focused areas in the North, East and increasingly in the hill country may find these new regulations a bitter pill to swallow. According to the circular: Provincial Councils and Local Government bodies including Municipal Councils should not establish direct contact or correspond directly with foreign governments/ missions accredited to Sri Lanka and other international organisations.” However, some space has been given for the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Defence in the new circular, which states: Direct interaction on specialised areas such as defence and foreign funding, between the line Ministries/institutions and foreign diplomatic missions accredited to Sri Lanka and related entities, and also with Sri Lanka Missions abroad may be desirable on following instances, taking into account special imperatives and circumstances. It is nevertheless essential that the ministry in charge of the subject of Foreign Affairs be kept informed of all such interactions, especially those relating to Agreements/MoUs: (a) The ministry in charge of the subject of finance may deal directly with the concerned foreign governments/international organisations on the following aspects, with the stipulation that major policy issues bearing political/strategic repercussions would be pursued in consultation with the ministry in charge of the subject of Foreign Affairs: Negotiating loans from multilateral/regional financial institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, IDA, ADB and AFBD”

The introduction of the new regulations builds on an unwritten ‘gag order’ which most government ministers and senior public officials seem to follow since the new Government came into office. And as such is a concern as it creates a straitjacket environment in the public sector. It adds to the already restrictive State apparatus which has a weak history of being transparent and whistleblowing. As such, not only foreign missions, journalists and public interest investigators are also today essentially ‘locked out of’ the State apparatus, due to the new Government’s policy on using only one channel for information – the Cabinet Press briefing, which is often a limited engagement. Some observers have been of the view that the reduction in access to information enacted by this Government, and now the new regulations on engaging the diplomatic community is part of a trend, by the new political force, which has limited experience in governance, and finds any criticism unpalatable. If such a trend continues, Sri Lanka would find itself with a less informed public, and weak checks and balances, as the Government would not be able to be held accountable. It would also mean, Sri Lanka’s partners in the international community will not get a good read on ground realities, and will be left to work without clarity on important matters, of bilateral and multilateral nature. Which inturn may deter foreign investors.  A worrying trend indeed.