Professional background
My career started at the
Department of Agrarian Services, Colombo as a Management Assistant in 1993.
There I had to deal with repairs of minor irrigation works in the country.
Then I joined the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs in 2000. There I
worked in different departments and 03 Sri Lanka Missions abroad until I left
the Ministry in 2018.
Currently, I’m working in
the Department of Inland Revenue. My main task there is to provide services to
the taxpayers in receiving their tax returns, opening up new tax files,
facilitating payment of taxes etc.
Service at Sri Lanka Missions abroad
In all three Missions,
I had the opportunity to serve as Consular Officer, Accounts Officer and
Administrative Officer. Especially as a Consular Officer, I had to deal
directly with Sri Lankans. I had to work day and night on the official needs of
Sri Lankans as well as their grievances and accidents and deaths, so I was
trained to work under any tiring and stressful situation. And helping one's own fellow human beings is
an act of great self-satisfaction. In carrying out these tasks, one has to work
with the top government officials and private sector professionals in the
country concerned. There I was able to gain a better understanding of their procedures
from which I was able to learn something good for my career as well. It also
gave me an opportunity to acquire negotiation skills and build up confidence in
me. Furthermore, whenever any Sri Lankan delegation of Ministers or higher
ranking govt. officials visit that country for official purposes, the Embassy
usually arrange meetings with their counterparts. By participating at these
events, I was able to gain a better understanding of diplomatic practice.
Every
opportunity is taken to promote the image of Sri Lanka abroad. Various
festivals and exhibitions are organized to promote the Sri Lankan culture among
foreigners. At those events I met people from different cultures, and I was
able to gain an understanding of their cultures, add something new to my life,
and change my attitude towards certain issues. I was also able to build
long-term friendships with some people I met on such occasions in those
countries and it added a value to my life.
I was also able
to accompany family members on these foreign service assignments. In
particular, I was able to give my children a foreign education with a sound
English knowledge and they were able to get a good exposure. Being educated
with children of different nationalities has enabled them to develop cultural
tolerance that would help them in their future lives. At the same time, I was
able to build some financial stability due to the foreign allowances and other
benefits I received while working abroad. Thus, the Foreign Service has been
instrumental in elevating my professional as well as personal life to an
advanced level. Overall, the knowledge and experience I gained abroad made me
to look at different issues from a global perspective.
Posting to Sri Lanka Embassy in Moscow
Posting to Sri Lanka Embassy in Korea
Assisting Sri Lankan President’s visit to Korea
In 2017, while I
was working at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Korea, the then President Maithripala
Sirisena paid an official visit to Korea. All the arrangements for the five day
long visit were made by our Embassy and I was entrusted with the responsibility
of providing transport facilities to the delegation. Firstly, I have prepared a
detailed document on the operation of each vehicle according to the timetable of
the tour by allocating suitable vehicles for the MPs, Ministers and officials.
Additional drivers and vehicles were also prepared in advance for use in case
of an emergency, so problems were minimized. With all these activities, I was
able to successfully carry out that task with the assistance of the relevant
Korean officials.
A motorcade was
arranged for the president and delegation on time for all occasions such as from
and to the airport, hotel, meetings with government officials, sightseeing etc.
For that, I coordinated between the drivers, the police officers and the protocol
officers, but it was a challenge to make sure that no mistakes or delays were
made. At the same time, it was my responsibility to look after the comfort of
the drivers and to be constantly on the lookout for their food and hygiene that
would not interfere with the scheduled times. .
This special
role played by me was specially appreciated by the then Ambassador. The
knowledge and experience I gained through this work is immense. By performing
this special duty, I was able to develop the qualities of coordination skills,
negotiation ability, patience, quick but accurate decision making, planning,
pre-preparation, sense of responsibility etc., which caused an big impact on professional
life.
Airport duties at the CHOGM -2013 held in Colombo
While I was working
in the Ministry of External Affairs in Colombo, I had to perform special duties
for the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) held in Sri Lanka in
2013. Working at such a large international conference is a daunting task. I
have been assigned to receive the foreign govt. representatives from the
flight, complete the immigration & emigration process, customs &
baggage clearance and send them off to their respective hotels by reserved
vehicles and vice versa.
Here, I
essentially had to do a great deal of coordination. That was because the
airport manager, customs officers, immigration officials, Embassy officials of
the country, Receptionists, trolley operators and drivers and everyone involved
in the process. Here, one small mistake could have tarnished the name of Sri
Lanka. Therefore, all processes had to be closely monitored until the relevant foreign
delegate left.
The coordination, quick but accurate decision-making and risk taking, self-confidence, leadership, commitment, punctuality were the skills and qualities I exercised at the assigned task and thereby further improving the same. Accordingly, the experience I gained from performing this special duty will contribute to the success of my future career and personal life as well.
Letter of commendation
Comments
Post a Comment