The new government has reportedly offered Mahinda Ratnayake, a journalist who contested the Colombo district from the National People’s Power party and lost, an ambassadorial post. Journalist Sunanda Deshapriya has posted on her social media account that Mahinda Ratnayake has been appointed as the ambassador to Cuba under the new government.
The National People’s Power party had previously expressed strong criticism regarding the appointment of political friends and relatives to the diplomatic service. The government also took steps to recall a large number of diplomatic officers appointed by the previous government.
The Diplomatic Service Association has also expressed its protest against the current government’s actions.