Sri Lanka Foreign Service Exam key terms

A foreign policy stance of refusing to join either of two rival power blocs. Sri Lanka helped found the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961 and has long used it to protect sovereignty and attract aid from both sides.

An international grouping of states that declined formal alliance with the Cold War blocs. Founded through the 1961 Belgrade Summit, it grew from the 1955 Bandung meeting and remains a platform for developing-country diplomacy.

The 1955 Asian-African conference in Indonesia that set out principles of anti-colonialism, sovereignty and peaceful coexistence. It is a forerunner of the Non-Aligned Movement and shaped Sri Lanka's post-independence foreign policy thinking.

Five principles of peaceful coexistence: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful settlement of disputes. They are a standard reference in South Asian diplomacy.

The legal authority of a state to govern itself within its territory without external dictation. In diplomacy it grounds rules on non-interference, territorial integrity and equality of states, all central to Sri Lanka's foreign policy statements.

The principle that a state's borders and territory must not be altered or violated by other states. Sri Lanka invokes it to resist external pressure on devolution and to oppose separatism, and it underpins UN Charter obligations.

The 1961 treaty codifying diplomatic privileges and immunities, including the inviolability of missions and the personal immunity of accredited envoys. It is the core legal text for embassy practice and diplomatic appointments.

Protection from the host state's legal process granted to accredited diplomats so they can perform duties freely. It is not a personal licence for wrongdoing; the sending state may waive it or recall the offender.

A formal declaration by a host state that an accredited diplomat is unacceptable and must leave. It requires no explanation under the Vienna Convention and is a common instrument of diplomatic protest.

Assistance a state gives its nationals abroad, such as help in arrest, detention, repatriation or lost documents. It is exercised through consulates and is distinct from the political representation handled by embassies.

Dialogue conducted by non-official actors such as scholars, retired officials and civil society to explore solutions where governments cannot easily meet. It feeds ideas into formal negotiations without binding commitments.

Influence exercised through private, confidential channels rather than public statements. It suits small states handling sensitive issues such as maritime disputes or human rights pressure, where public confrontation would raise costs.

Managing problems through institutions and rules agreed among many states, such as the UN, WTO or Commonwealth. Small states use it to multiply their influence and restrain larger neighbours' unilateral action.

Relations conducted directly between two states through treaties, visits and joint commissions. It is the main vehicle for trade, investment and security cooperation, and it often delivers faster results than multilateral forums.

The 1945 founding treaty of the UN, setting out sovereign equality, peaceful settlement of disputes and limits on the use of force. Article 2(4) prohibits aggression, and Chapter VII empowers the Security Council to enforce peace.

Deployment of multinational forces, usually under UN mandate, to monitor ceasefires and protect civilians in conflict zones. Sri Lanka has contributed troops to several missions, which supports its UN diplomacy.

A state's strategy for advancing national interests abroad through diplomacy, trade, defence and alliances. Its instruments include embassies, treaties, aid and sanctions, and its priorities shift with security and economic conditions.

The core goals a state protects in external relations, typically security, sovereignty, economic growth and the welfare of citizens abroad. In practice it is contested, because different groups define it differently.

Use of diplomatic networks to promote trade, investment, tourism and market access. Sri Lanka's missions increasingly work on export promotion and investment facilitation alongside traditional political reporting.

The 1947 constitutional framework that gave Ceylon internal self-government before independence, creating a Westminster-style parliament. It also contained the entrenched section 29 barring discriminatory legislation, which later court cases invoked.

The 1931 constitutional reform that introduced universal adult franchise in Ceylon and replaced communal representation with territorial electorates and executive committees. It is a landmark in Sri Lankan democratic and administrative history.

A system in which the executive is drawn from and answerable to the legislature, with a ceremonial head of state. Sri Lanka adopted it in 1947 and later diluted it by creating an executive presidency.

A system where a directly elected president heads both state and government and appoints ministers. Sri Lanka's 1978 Constitution created it; the 19th Amendment trimmed some powers and the 20th and later changes altered them again.

A formal change to a constitution made under its own amending procedure. In Sri Lanka most amendments need a two-thirds parliamentary majority, and some also require approval at a referendum.

A constitutional provision that can be changed only by a special, harder procedure than ordinary legislation. Such clauses protect fundamental rights, devolution or the structure of the state from simple majority amendment.

The power of the Supreme Court to hear complaints that executive or administrative action violated a guaranteed right. In Sri Lanka it flows from Article 126 and is a key check on public administration.

The devolved tier of government created by Sri Lanka's 13th Amendment, with limited legislative, executive and financial powers. Councils are elected by provincial voters and remain dependent on central transfers and governors' discretion.

The 1987 constitutional change that established provincial councils and made Tamil an official language, following the Indo-Lanka Accord. Its full implementation, especially of land and police powers, remains politically contested.

Transfer of powers from central government to elected regional bodies that exercise them in their own right. Sri Lanka's debate over devolution is tied to ethnic reconciliation and to fears about territorial fragmentation.

The principle that government acts under known, general rules applied equally, with independent courts and no arbitrary detention or punishment. It is a standard benchmark in public administration and human rights reporting.

The obligation of officials to answer for the use of public money and power to legislatures, auditors and citizens. It is enforced through audit reports, parliamentary committees and the courts.

The constitutional officer who audits the accounts of all public institutions and reports to Parliament. The post is a central instrument of financial oversight in Sri Lanka's public administration.

A constitutional body that advises on appointments, promotions and discipline in the public service, aiming to insulate staffing from political patronage. Sri Lanka's commission was strengthened by the 17th and 19th Amendments.

A country's record of transactions with the rest of the world, covering trade in goods and services, income and financial flows. Persistent deficits can force currency depreciation, import controls or external borrowing.

When a country spends more on imports of goods and services and income payments than it earns from exports and transfers. Sri Lanka's chronic deficits drove reliance on remittances, tourism and foreign borrowing.

Borrowing by a government, usually through bonds and official loans, to finance budget and external deficits. Sri Lanka defaulted in 2022 and restructured debt with bilateral and private creditors under an IMF programme.

A lending arrangement in which the International Monetary Fund provides finance in exchange for policy conditions such as fiscal consolidation, revenue reform and exchange-rate flexibility. Sri Lanka entered one in 2023 amid its economic crisis.

The gap between government spending and revenue in a given year, financed by borrowing. Sri Lanka's low tax take and high interest costs made this gap central to its debt crisis.

Money sent home by nationals working abroad. They are a major source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, especially from Gulf employment, and help cushion trade deficits.

Condensing a passage into a shorter version that keeps its essential meaning and logical order while cutting examples and repetition. It tests whether a candidate can identify main ideas and express them in their own words.

The ability to extract stated and implied meaning from a passage, including inference, tone and the author's purpose. Exam questions typically test vocabulary in context, main argument and supporting detail.

The sentence that states the central claim of a paragraph, usually placed first. Recognising topic sentences speeds up comprehension and helps a writer structure essays and official reports clearly.

The level of formality and technicality appropriate to an audience and purpose, ranging from official correspondence to informal speech. Diplomatic writing demands formal register, precise verbs and avoidance of slang.

A sentence construction in which the subject performs the action, as in 'the ministry issued the circular'. Official writing favours it for clarity and direct accountability, unlike the vaguer passive form.

A language given legal status for government business, courts and administration. Sri Lanka's Constitution recognises Sinhala and Tamil as official languages, with English as a link language.

A language used to bridge speakers of different mother tongues, especially in administration and higher education. English serves this role in Sri Lanka under the Constitution, alongside Sinhala and Tamil as official languages.

Rules and practices governing which languages are used in education, courts and public services. Sri Lanka's post-1956 Sinhala-only policy marginalised Tamil speakers, and later reforms restored parity of status.

Rendering text faithfully from one language into another while preserving meaning, tone and legal effect. Bilingual drafting of laws and treaties makes it a core skill for the public service and foreign ministry.

Drawing valid conclusions from evidence by identifying assumptions, distinguishing correlation from cause and weighing competing explanations. It underpins essay questions that ask for argument rather than description.

The arrangement of a claim, supporting reasons and evidence into a coherent case. Strong exam essays state a thesis early, develop it in ordered paragraphs and acknowledge limits before concluding.

The strongest objection to a position, stated fairly and then answered. Including one signals analytical maturity and is often required in essays on contested policy questions.

A single sentence that states the central claim an essay will defend. It should be specific and contestable, guiding the structure of the whole piece rather than merely announcing the topic.