July 31, Colombo: A clerical service official covers duties of the Sri Lanka High Commissioner of Canada, a Sinhala daily The Divaina reported.

Diplomatic sources say that Sri Lankan embassies and high commissions in a number of countries have vacancies for the senior diplomats. In some foreign offices the vacancies remain for more than a year now.

Canada, Japan, China, Russia, Germany, and South Korea are among the countries where Sri Lanka's diplomatic missions are vacant of high commissioners and ambassadors.

In most of these missions, junior officials cover the duties of the ambassador, The Divaina said, adding that an official in clerical service covers the duties of the High Commissioner for Canada.