Yahapalana 'DIPLOMUTTS' Galore

 Mar 30, 2016

Present Government of Sri Lanka has sent an Ambassador to Afghanistan by the name of Mr Najimudeen, native of Akkaraipattu who has later moved to Polonnaruwa to do business.

He has taken his brother-in -law (brother of the wife) to Afghanistan having declared him as his cook. Cook accompanied him when he went to present the credentials to HE the President of Afghanistan. As a result, Protocol Officials of the ministry had to accord the formal welcome inline with the accepted norms although they knew that he was the personal cook of the ambassador.

Embassy of Sri Lanka do not have its own building and it is housed in a hotel in which diplomatic community from various countries live on long term rent. Ambassador patronizes the restaurant at times and he is seen in his sarong and slippers seated amongst the rest of the diplomatic community in the common area.

He is the only Ambassador who is accompanied by his wife and they cook in their room at times. Prior to cooking, Ambassador walks to the kitchen and ask for green chili and onions from the kitchen of the hotel.

According to the papers he has, Ambassador has studied up to the A/L but he introduces himself as a lawyer. This is completely unacceptable. He do not have the language skills or the character to communicate with the government officials of Afghanistan and he do not have any recognition amongst the diplomats present in the hotel or amongst the larger diplomatic corps in Afghanistan. Hotel staff do look-down upon him for reasons listed above.

During the reception held at the hotel to mark the Independence of Sri Lanka in February 2016, Ambassador walked up to the podium and 'wiped his face' on the national flag. His intention was to show that he is a 'patriot' but the grim picture he painted was beyond repair especially in front of the seasoned career diplomats who knew the degree of shame he brought to the diplomatic community.

Those who come to the embassy to obtain visa to travel to Sri Lanka are approached by the Ambassador. They are requested to take goods to Sri Lanka on his behalf that are purchased by the Ambassador for commercial purposes.
Sri Lankan expatriate community has earned respect of the Afghan Government and the diplomatic community. There are Sri Lankans who are now citizens of other countries, working in embassies holding responsible positions and all of them are deeply embarrassed including the Sri Lankan expatriate community living here by the behavior of the ambassador.

Hope the Government that came to power promising good governance will rectify this by recalling him forthwith.