President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has come under fire for his controversial approach to foreign diplomacy, marked by his refusal to meet with foreign ambassadors in Sri Lanka or engage with Sri Lankan diplomats stationed abroad. The Presidential Secretariat claims this is a matter of official policy, but critics argue it signals a dangerous diplomatic disconnect.
Historically, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry operated under the Prime Minister, who also served as head of state. This model evolved under President J.R. Jayewardene, who appointed a separate foreign minister but still maintained tight control. Even Mahinda Rajapaksa, during his early presidency, distanced himself from foreign policy, until a diplomatic blunder over a UN resolution forced him to act. Mahinda had to sack Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera after Sri Lanka’s unexpected vote against Palestine triggered Arab backlash. Observers now wonder how long Anura will take to learn a similar lesson.
Social media has further fueled the controversy, with viral posts comparing current Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath’s low-profile presence at the Pope’s funeral with former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s high-level meetings during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Critics use the comparison to highlight the NPP government’s perceived failures in foreign relations.
Supporters of the NPP defend the strategy, arguing that Ranil’s global mingling brought little electoral gain, while the NPP’s grassroots outreach to the Sri Lankan diaspora is more effective with voters.
Yet, the foreign policy gaps are hard to ignore. Despite being invited to the prestigious BRICS Summit in Russia and the UN General Assembly, Anura and his foreign minister were no-shows. The reason? The general election, according to officials. Even Prime Minister Harini’s recent participation in the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand reportedly involved no direct meetings with global leaders.
Anura is expected to visit Vietnam in May, not for international diplomacy, but to appeal to the Sinhala Buddhist community ahead of local elections. He will attend Vesak celebrations and the exposition of the Tooth Relic, positioning himself as a spiritual statesman echoing Mahinda’s playbook.
With diplomatic opportunities slipping by and global engagement at a standstill, the real question remains: can a president lead effectively on the world stage without ever stepping onto it?
