Urgent need to fill diplomatic vacancies in key capitals

Friday, 14 August 2026 04:52 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

BRICS Chamber of Commerce General Secretary and a prominent private sector personality Kosala Wickramanayake has written an open letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath on the urgent need to fill diplomatic vacancies in key capitals.

I write to you with a deep sense of national interest and urgency regarding Sri Lanka’s current diplomatic representation in two of our most consequential partner nations: the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America.

1. The China vacancy – A strategic gap

It has now been over six months since Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China departed, and we are yet to nominate a successor. In contrast, our largest neighbour, China, moved with remarkable speed to appoint a new Ambassador to Sri Lanka just one week after their previous envoy’s departure. This asymmetry sends an unintended signal of disengagement at a time when China remains our second-largest economy and a critical partner in infrastructure, investment, and debt restructuring. A prolonged vacancy undermines our ability to negotiate, attract investments, and advance bilateral projects that are vital to our economic recovery.

2. The United States – Our largest export market

Even more concerning is the current vacancy in Washington, D.C. The United States is our single largest export market, absorbing nearly 30% of Sri Lankan goods. With supply chain realignments, GSP+ discussions, and IMF engagement ongoing, having an Ambassador in place is not a formality—it is a commercial and economic necessity. Every week without a chief diplomat in Washington is a week we risk losing market share, investor confidence, and policy influence.

3. A call for decisive action

Prioritise nominations for both Washington and Beijing concurrently, rather than sequentially.
Set a clear timeline—no more than 30 days—to announce nominees, subject to parliamentary or constitutional approvals.
Select candidates with proven diplomatic acumen and commercial credibility, not merely political seniority. Our envoys must be dealmakers and advocates, not just ceremonial representatives.

Sri Lanka’s economic survival depends on our ability to project influence, secure markets, and sustain trust with our global partners. In the race for recovery, diplomatic speed is a strategic advantage. We cannot afford to be absent from the table when critical decisions about our future are being made.

I thank you for your leadership and trust that you will treat this with the urgency it deserves.