The first woman in the foreign service or Ceylon Overseas Service it was then called
(Excerpted from Madame-Sir, the autobiography of Manel Abeysekera) On my return home from Oxford, I felt I should look around for a job. The first offer I had was made by Mr. J.L.M. Fernando, the then Chairman of Air Ceylon, who urged me to apply for an Executive Post with the Airline. I was about […]
Manel Abeysekera, the first woman in the foreign service of Ceylon Overseas Service (COS), reflected on her journey in her autobiography. She revealed the special circumstance that allowed women to apply for the service, which was usually limited to men. Her parents granted her permission to apply for the position, motivated by the desire for her to succeed, much like her father's hope to follow in his own footsteps with the Ceylon Civil Service.
Abeysekera joined COS under Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, who was keen on boosting young talent in the service. During her interviews, she candidly responded to questions about her potential future plans, including marriage, demonstrating her feminist perspective. Her honesty and qualifications impressed the interview panel, leading to her appointment as the first female COS member.
She fondly remembered her interactions with male colleagues, who found her resilient and humorous despite her reserved nature. She also appreciated the support of her father in ensuring her medical examination was transparent, as she felt the test was an unnecessary hurdle. Overall, Abeysekera's story highlights her determination to break barriers and pave the way for other women in the foreign service.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
