Veteran artist Rohana Beddage named HC as High Post Committee clears several political appointees

• Beddage named HC to Maldives, name sent to HPC
• Former SC judge among those who will head SL missions
• Several important missions remain without heads after all political appointees recalled by new Govt.

Veteran musician and artist Rohana Beddage has been picked to serve as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, one of several non-career personnel nominated to serve in the country’s overseas missions.

Beddage’s name was sent to the High Post Committee of Parliament, which examines the suitability of persons and makes recommendations to the appointing authority, after calling for public representation regarding the nominees.

The High Posts Committee has already cleared the names of three political appointees, namely, former Supreme Court Judge Justice Eva Wanasundera to serve as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to France, Professor Nalin De Silva as Ambassador in Myanmar, and Malraj De Silva as Ambassador in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

All political appointees who received postings under the previous Government were recalled last month by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, with many missions including India, Russia, Australia, South Africa, Japan, and China, among those left without heads until new appointments are made. Meanwhile, Parliament sources said that the confirmation of senior columnist and journalist C. A Chandraprema, who was nominated to serve as Head of Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, may be delayed, as he had not sent in the requisite documentation that must be submitted to the Committee for perusal. These include a copy of his bio-data, together with a Declaration of Assets and Liabilities, a Police report and a medical report.