The federal government has actually introduced a comprehensive set of standards focused on improving and ensuring collaborated communication between the state organizations and foreign entities.Accordingly, the federal government has issued a circular, effective from January 1, 2025, in order to protect national interests and avoid diplomatic complications.As per the brand-new circular, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work as the lead institution for all global relations while making it mandatory to acquire the Presidents pre-approval for all foreign sees by government officials.The guidelines stress strengthening the function of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, guaranteeing clearness in interaction protocols, and establishing a clear framework for global contracts, foreign funding, and diplomatic protocols.At the core of the circular lies the assertion that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will act as the lead institution for carrying out worldwide relations, as described in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.Going forward, all communication with foreign governments or international organizations must be collaborated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The circular also establishes clear communication protocols, worrying that no direct interaction with foreign federal governments ought to take place without the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.All Provincial Councils and Local Government organizations are strictly restricted from engaging with foreign objectives, both in Sri Lanka and abroad, without Ministry of Foreign Affairs approval.Meanwhile, the circular also kept in mind that the ministries such as Finance or Defence might still engage with foreign entities on specific problems, such as loans or technical matters, but only after previous consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.In action to the growing intricacies of international travel and involvement in diplomatic occasions, the circular presents new rules for foreign gos to:- All foreign gos to need to be pre-approved by the President and collaborated through the MFA to prevent last-minute complications or overlooked diplomatic nuances.- Senior authorities taking a trip for main purposes must notify the MFA well ahead of time.- The Ministry will also collaborate visa ask for these officials, which should be submitted a minimum of 4 weeks prior to departure.In addition, the circular states that senior authorities taking a trip for main functions are entitled to transportation and consular assistance; however, personal gos to will not be moneyed by the Ministry unless explicitly authorized.The circular also mentions that expenses connected to lodging, travel, or communication services are typically borne by the particular ministry organizing the trip.
The circular likewise consists of procedures for emergency contacts by foreign missions and informal communications.- In the occasion of an emergency, foreign missions are allowed to call the appropriate ministries directly.- However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be notified without delay to avoid misconceptions or the capacity for diplomatic fallout.Similarly, any informal correspondence with foreign objectives must be reported to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specifically if it could progress into a more considerable policy issue.When conference foreign ministers, dignitaries, or ambassadors, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are compulsory to be welcomed.
If not, a report needs to be submitted to the Ministry detailing the conversation that happened throughout the meeting.The circular additional states that senior authorities of the Government of Sri Lanka should not go to occasions hosted by representatives of countries with which Sri Lanka does not have diplomatic relations or acknowledgment.
In such cases, queries can be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for clarification.Before initiating discussions for bilateral, local, or multilateral contracts or memoranda of understanding with foreign entities, ministries need to first alert the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Any formal arrangements or Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) should be cleared by the Ministry to examine possible policy or legal implications.The circular also describes participation in diplomatic events.
It mentions that the Cabinet will nominate a Minister each month to represent Sri Lanka at the National Day events of foreign countries.If the chosen Minister is unable to participate in, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be notified a minimum of two weeks beforehand to make alternative arrangements.