If one were to ask who the most outstanding diplomat produced by Sri Lanka in recent times is, following the late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, anyone well-versed in politics would unhesitatingly name Mahinda Samarasinghe. Much like Kadirgamar, Samarasinghe is a politician who has left an indelible mark on the international political stage on behalf of Sri Lanka. Following the end of the war in 2009, when Sri Lanka faced war crimes allegations at the Geneva Human Rights Commission, he managed a historic first by uniting member countries and defeating the resolution. Later, after serving as a minister during Gotabaya Rajapaksa's administration, he stepped away from domestic politics to assume the role of Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States.
During his tenure, as Sri Lanka faced a severe crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently plummeted into bankruptcy due to the economic crisis, Ambassador Samarasinghe succeeded in securing a massive amount of aid from the United States. Recognizing this exceptional diplomatic performance, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who assumed the presidency after Gotabaya Rajapaksa, decided to retain Samarasinghe in his post in Washington.
Following the election of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, many assumed Samarasinghe would have to bid farewell to his ambassadorship. Although the new administration took steps to recall the majority of foreign envoys back to Sri Lanka, Samarasinghe was prominently among the handful retained. Given that the JVP is a leftist party, political observers speculated that Sri Lanka would pivot towards strengthening ties with China and Russia. However, defying these speculations, Samarasinghe took the initiative to forge a very close relationship between the US and the new leftist government. He was instrumental in building strong ties between the President and key US officials, including Sergio Gor.
Furthermore, when the Trump administration previously imposed tariffs targeting Sri Lanka, Samarasinghe successfully negotiated a reduction from 44% down to 19%. He also spearheaded diplomatic efforts that resulted in the United States providing several coast guard helicopters and vessels to Sri Lanka.
Despite these massive achievements for the country and having time remaining in his appointed tenure, Samarasinghe has decided to retire from his post by the end of this month. Throughout his time as the US Ambassador, he was highly regarded for his extensive support of Buddhist temples and monks in the United States. Consequently, upon hearing of his impending retirement, the Maha Sangha, representing all Buddhist temples in the Washington D.C. area and California, organized a special felicitation ceremony in his honor last Saturday at the Washington Buddhist Vihara.
The Washington Buddhist Vihara was established by the renowned Sri Lankan monk, Venerable Madihe Pannasiha Thero. This marked the first occasion where the venerable Maha Sangha, spread across the US capital region and beyond, gathered to pay tribute to the services of a departing Sri Lankan envoy. Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Samarasinghe shared the experiences and challenges he faced during his tenure and expressed his deep gratitude for the support extended by the Maha Sangha and the Sri Lankan community. The Ambassador reaffirmed his lifelong commitment to serving his motherland.
The ceremony, organized under the guidance of the Chief Incumbent of the Washington Buddhist Vihara, Venerable Maharagama Dhammasiri Thero, was attended by 16 Buddhist monks, members of the Sri Lankan community, and numerous well-wishers.
During his address, Samarasinghe made several special revelations. He clarified that he had not been asked to step down by the government, but rather, the decision to retire was entirely his own. Hinting at yet another major accomplishment before his departure, he stated that Sri Lanka would soon hear more positive news regarding further reductions to the 19% US tariff rate.
In the final weeks of his tenure, Samarasinghe also carried out several key official duties. He presented the first copy of a 'Coffee Table' book, published by the Embassy to commemorate the 250th anniversary of United States independence, to Allison Hooker, a senior US State Department official. During the meeting, Hooker expressed special gratitude for the vital role Samarasinghe played for Sri Lanka during recent crucial periods. He also held discussions with Paul Kapur, and most notably, concluded a special high-level meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Having officially concluded his duties, Mahinda Samarasinghe is scheduled to return to Sri Lanka on the 31st of this month. Anticipating his arrival, it is reported that several political parties and prominent leaders have already planned discussions to bring him back into active domestic politics, with some having already reached out via text messages. H
