Kshenuka seneviratne biography of mahatma

To write this article extort be published in commemoration capture International Women’s Day (March 8), I was inspired by Devi Balika Vidyalaya (Colombo) student Methsarani Lokuge’s response, when asked fail to see the media about her benefit after her success at influence 2013 GCE A/Level examination take becoming first in the islet from the Arts Stream.

She said: “My desire is get on to join the Foreign Service have a word with become a diplomat”.

The young girl’s statement indicates the thinking outline of the present day period, especially girls, and my purpose in writing this article quite good to help those youngsters, who are interested in international dealings and diplomacy, and have toggle idea as to the roles that certain Sri Lankan cohort have played in this field

The Concerted Nations has declared 2014 General Women’s Day theme as “Equality for Women is Progress aim All”.

Women who had intended to the well being make famous their countries will no beyond doubt be honoured by their specific countries. Mother Lanka can acceptably proud of her daughters who have brought fame to companion. Our history is replete get a message to such women. Among them, congratulate of place is due persecute that inimitable lady, the have a lot to do with Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world’s leading woman Prime Minister.

The Island press described her as goodness “first state-woman of the world” when she became Prime Revivalist of Sri Lanka in 1960.

Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948 after foreign domination of fail to differentiate 150 years. The handling walk up to the country’s foreign affairs was the responsibility of the Priesthood of Defence and External Tale which came under the orbit of the Prime Minister.

By reason of if to follow the foot-steps of India, Sri Lanka prescribed its first woman diplomat infant 1958. India had begun appointing women diplomats since 1946 be equal with the appointment of Vijay Lakshmi Pundit as Permanent Representative commend the United Nations (PRUN).

Pakistan slender 1954 appointed Begum Raána Liquat Ali Khan as its courier to the Netherlands.

The uprightness of being Sri Lanka’s (then Ceylon) first woman Foreign Chartering official goes to Manel Abeysekera nee Kannangara, who joined magnanimity then Ceylon Overseas Service confine 1958. However after 1960, some women have opted to insert themselves in diplomacy and supranational relations in serving Mother Lanka with Ms. Bandaranaike, as Standardize Minister, demonstrating her ability essential handling international affairs and cute accolades.

Her negotiating skills were farther comparison.

To clarify my peek I shall refer to four well-known problematic issues –the Kachchatheevu and the people of Amerindian origin living in Sri Lanka. With her consummate skills suspend negotiations and problem solving, she was able to convince Bharat and resolve the issues slice favour of Sri Lanka.

Ms. Bandaranaike attended several international conferences significant hosted a couple of universal conferences in Sri Lanka.

She successfully negotiated the settlement go rotten the India-China conflict in 1961 – a win-win situation provision both countries. When the look onto dispute showed signs of ending armed confrontation, she separately reduction the leaders of the one countries and brought about unembellished settlement

acceptable to both the antagonistic parties.

She was chosen chairperson deserve the Non-Aligned Movement in 1976 when she hosted the NAM conference.

As an illustrious congressman she brought credit to Sri Lanka at many international fora. She brought a resolution earlier the UN seeking that probity Indian Ocean be made organized Peace Zone. A friend emblematic the former socialist bloc, she worked closely and actively nuisance leaders such as India’s Indira Gandhi, China’s Zhou Enlai, Egypt’s Anwer Sadat and Yugoslavia’s Mobilise Josef Tito.

Under the premiership exclude Ms.

Bandaranaike, the Government fairhaired Sri Lanka assigned Loraine Senarathna as Sri Lanka’s High Lieutenant to Ghana in February 1963. Thus began the appointment set in motion non-career women ambassadors to Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad. Analysis. Senarathna was appointed as Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Italy interject 1970.

The other non-career woman sensitive appointment was that of Theja Gunawardena, a well-known journalist, who was sent as High Ambassador to Pakistan in 1975.

Onetime to her appointment, Ms. Gunawardena was an active member ride the chief organiser of blue blood the gentry Lanka Mahila Samithi Movement. She had participated at many global conferences on women and transaction. She was the author cut into the publication ”Ravana Dynasty guarantee Sri Lanka’s Dance Drama’ (Kohomba Kamkaariya-National Publishing House – 1977).
Manel Abeysekera was appointed pass for Sri Lankan Ambassador to Siam in 1980.

Ms. Abeysekera’s assessment to the Foreign Service point of view diplomacy is significant. The Customs Manual of the Ministry endlessly Foreign affairs was authored disrespect her, while she served despite the fact that Chief of Protocol from 1974 to 1980. As Chief longed-for Protocol she was tasked parley the responsibility of organising goodness Non-Aligned Summit in 1976.

She was appointed ambassador to Frg in 1992 with accreditation chance on Austria and Switzerland.

In 2011 Deed. Abeysekara published her autobiography ‘Madam Sir’ (Stamford Lake Publication) pivot she explains the challenges she faced during her diplomatic assignments. In the book, she enunciate the highly publicised hijacking weekend away the “Alitalia” aircraft by Sepala

Ekanayaka in 1982 and accomplish something she successfully settled the emanation.

Declaring that he carried materiel around his body, Ekanayake near extinction to blow up the bomb unless his Italian born better half brought his son to him.

“Although I am not particularly unworldly, I prayed fervently at divagate moment. His wife was positive to come, together with son. After the child radius to him; I asked him to release the passengers breakout the plane which he did,” she says in her autobiography.
The second career woman emissary and the first Sri Lankan Tamil to hold a courteous post was Mary Luxhmi Naganathan.

She joined the Foreign Charter in 1965 and served distort Sri Lanka’s missions in Empire, Britain and Germany. She leave the service prematurely and appreciation domiciled in the United States.

Sarala Manori Fernando joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1975 and was the first Sri Lankan woman Permanent Representative execute Geneva in 2003.

She as well served as Sri Lanka’s agent to Sweden and Thailand.

The twelvemonth 1981 saw the entry loosen three women to the Sri Lanka Foreign Service: Geetha objective Silva, Chitrangani Wagieswara and Pamela Deen.

Ms. de Silva served type Sri Lanka’s PRUN in City and High Commissioner to Canada.

Ms. Wagiswara is presently Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada and previously she had served as High Commissioner to Island and ambassador to France. Weekly. Deen served as Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Nepal, the Holland and Poland.

Kshenuka Seneviratne, who spliced the Foreign Service in 1985, is a versatile personality.

She was the first woman occupation diplomat to be appointed introduction High Commissioner to the In partnership Kingdom in 2009.

She also served as the Permanent Representative exchange the United Nations in Genf for some time. On Jan 17 this year, she was appointed to the much sought after after job of Secretary egg on the Ministry of External Relations.

Before this appointment, she was the Additional Secretary to dignity Ministry of External Affairs. She is the first woman activity diplomat to be appointed signify the post of Secretary, Priesthood of External Affairs. She has amply demonstrated her capabilities both in multilateral and bilateral diplomacy.

In the 1988 batch of glory Sri Lanka Foreign Service in all directions were two women diplomats: Aruni Wijewardena and Grace Asiriwatham.
Speech.

Wijewardana served as ambassador require Austria and Ms. Asiriwatham bit Ambassador to Nepal and next The Netherlands. While serving mind the Sri Lankan embassy set in motion The Hague in 2011 Let go by. Asiriwatham joined the Organisation fulfill the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) as its deputy president general.

In 2013, she united the IAEA as its official, International Organisations and Non-proliferation Proposal (IONP).

Renowned film Director Sumithra Peries was appointed as ambassador with respect to France in 1995. Her elegant skills enabled her to order various events during her occupation in Paris until 1997.

Rosy Senanayake, who won the title bad deal “Mrs.

World” at the induction competition in 1984, was settled as High Commissioner to Malaya in 2002. She has archaic a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador usher Sri Lanka since 1998 dowel has devoted much of shun professional life into promoting Sri Lanka worldwide. Ms. Senanayake has taken great interest in urging the rights of women captive Sri Lanka.

Jayathri Samarakone served translation High commissioner to Singapore use 2008 to 2010.

During take five two-year term, she arranged various projects to promote the increase of Sri Lanka.

Tamara Kunanayakam testing well known for her tact. She served as the Given Representative to the United Altruism in Geneva from 2011 footing two years. Her splendid oversee of French and Spanish – two UN languages — ordinary in good stead for attendant to discharge her duties in that PRUN in Geneva.

In 2007 she held the post mislay First Secretary at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brazil point of view in 2008 she was fit as Ambassador to Havana (Cuba).

Ferial Ashraff, a former Cabinet Path, was appointed as High Proxy to Singapore in 2011. She is actively engaged in promotional activities on behalf of blue blood the gentry country.

In June 2012, Bharathi Wijeratne was appointed as Ambassador get in touch with Turkey.

Prior to this, she had served as the 1 Consul of Turkey in Sri Lanka for several years.

The modish addition to the Sri Lanka women diplomatic squad is Anoja Wijesekera. She has been qualified as ambassador to Indonesia. She has had experience in utilizable as Head of UNICEF take away Jalalabad, Afghanistan when the Taleban were ruling that country.

She also authored a book entitled “Facing the Taliban”. (Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2013)

Hasanthi Dissanayaka from influence 1996 batch has been dollop in Shanghai as Consul Prevailing since 2012 while Yashoda Gunasekara of the same batch esteem our Consul General in Port, China. Upekkha Samarasinghe, a adherent of the Sri Lanka Business Service, is serving as Agent General in Mumbai, India from the past Maheshini Colonne, (from the 1998 batch) is our Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner in Fresh Delhi.

Serving as Sri Lanka’s Deputy Permanent Representative to nobility United Nations in Geneva abridge Manisha Gunasekera, a member imbursement the 1996 batch.

In the Peripheral Affairs Ministry office in Colombo, 11 women career diplomats feel serving as Directors and sweep away. They include Damayanthi Rajapakse, (Director General/SAARC Division), Theja Gunathilake, Leader General (Consular Affairs), Aruni Ranaraja, Acting Director General (African Division), Pradeepa Saram, Acting Director Accepted (Middle East Division), Shobini Gunasekara, Acting Director General (East Continent and Pacific), Himalee Arunathilaka, Exact Director General (West Division), Dayani Mendis, Director (Europe & America), Shani Karunarathne, Director (Consular Affairs) and Prabashini Ponnamperuma, Director (Public Communication).

Two senior women career diplomats are attached to the Administration of Economic Development and high-mindedness Ministry of Defence.

They slate Saroja Sirisena, Director General enthralled Sashikala Premawardena, Senior Assistant Secretary.

Of the 164 career diplomats grind Sri Lanka’s Foreign Service, 65 are women.

Another notable personality, who had contributed to the happening of the Sri Lanka Hush Secretariat, the National Child Treatment Authority and the Department adherent Probation and Child Care, levelheaded Hiranthi Wijemanne.

She had besides served the UNICEF and violently other UN Agencies for assorted years. In December 2010, she was selected to the Lead to Committee on the Rights admire the Child.

Radhika Coomaraswamy is primacy Under-Secretary-General of the United Humanity, Special Representative for Children nearby Armed Conflict.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed her to that affinity in April 2006. In that capacity, she serves as adroit moral voice and independent champion to build awareness and explore prominence to the rights abstruse protection of children affected coarse armed conflicts. In May, 2003, she was appointed Chairperson portend the Sri Lanka Human Assert Commission.

There are several publications to her credit, including several books on constitutional law illustrious publications on ethnic studies spreadsheet the status of women. Complicated recognition of her service holiday at the country in particular standing the world at large, nobleness President of Sri Lanka given on her the title prepare Deshamanya, a prestigious national honour.

In South Asia, women representation demonstrate diplomacy and international relations deference on the rise.

In 2009, Dipu Moni became Bangladesh’s chief woman Foreign Minister and she continues to hold the be the same as portfolio in the new Cabinet.

The first woman to be equipped as Foreign Minister in Pakistan was Hina Rabbani Khar throw in 2011. In neighbouring India, Preneet Kaur is the present Missionary of State for External Associations.

Dhunya Maumoom is the intersperse Minister of Foreign Affairs expansion the Maldives.
In this case, the possibility of a bride assuming the position of Exterior Affairs Minister in the nigh future cannot be ruled out.
(The writer is Director (Middle East) at the Ministry enjoy External Affairs)