COLOMBO – Sri Lanka´s president on Monday justified his decision to sacksix diplomats — including an ambassador — for not answering his phonecalls, saying more would follow if the foreign service did not shape up.
Maithripala Sirisena was criticised for the shock dismissal last week ofhis top envoy to Austria and five other Vienna-based staff after his officetried unsuccessfully for hours to reach them by phone.
“I am being attacked ferociously over social media for recalling the entireembassy staff. Yes, I did that to send a powerful message to otherembassies,” Sirisena told a public meeting in Colombo.
He said he ordered the sacking of ambassador Priyanee Wijesekera and fiveother staff to set an example.
Sirisena did not say why he needed to contact the embassy urgently, or whyother avenues were not explored to reach the staffers.
The Sri Lankan embassy in Austria is accredited to UN bodies in Vienna, aswell as Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovakia andSlovenia.
It was the second time in days that Sirisena has raised eyebrows.
Last week, he flew into a rage over nuts served aboard SriLankan Airlines,the island´s national carrier, saying they were unfit for animals.
“Returning from Kathmandu, I was served some cashews on board a SriLankanflight, but it was so bad even a dog wouldn´t eat it,” he said.
An airline spokesman said it had cleared its stock of cashews — onlyserved in business class — and would change its Dubai-based supplier. -APP/AFP