ACCIDENT LAWYER NEW YORK CITY

Professional Career:

1980 :

Joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan.

1980-82:

Received training at the Civil Services Academy, Lahore and the Foreign Service Academy, Islamabad.

1982- 92:

Worked as Section Officer and on promotion, as Director, in the M/o Foreign Affairs.

1992-97

Posted to the Pakistan Embassy in Ankara, Turkey as First Secretary. Was promoted as Counsellor during my posting there. Dealt with political and cultural work.

Since my husband was also posted to Ankara as the Ambassador of Pakistan, I represented my country as the Ambassador’s spouse as well.

1997-2000:

Accompanied my husband on his postings as Pakistan Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China and later, as the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York.

2000-2003:

Rejoined the M/o Foreign Affairs and was appointed as Project Director of the Foreign Office school.

Selected for and successfully completed the 34th Advanced Course in Public Sector Management at the National Institute of Public Administration, Peshawar.

2003-2005:

Posted as Director, Foreign Service Academy, Islamabad, where officers of the Foreign Service of Pakistan and foreign diplomats from all over the world are trained, at junior and advanced levels.

2005-2008:

Promoted as Director-General and appointed to the Policy Planning Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Given additional assignment to publish a coffee table book on Pakistan. The book, the first such publication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was published in 2008.

Sept 2008-Jan 2009:

Selected for/successfully completed the 89th National Management Course at the National School of Public Policy (National Management College), Lahore.

July 2008-to date:

Assigned as Ambassador of Pakistan to Egypt.

Other Work:

1983-85:

Was Founding Member of the Lions Club International, Islamabad/Rawalpindi Chapter for women.

1991-92:

Made two documentaries with Pakistan Television. Received an Award from the Prime Minister of Pakistan for one of them.

1993-98:

Translated two Urdu language television, serial plays, ‘Unkahi’ and ‘Angaar Wadi’ as well as a Pakistani art film ‘The Last Song’ into English.

1999-2000:

Wrote screenplay for a feature film titled ‘Where There Is Love’.

2001:

My first book, ‘Tales That Dama Told’, a collection of Pakistani folk tales for children, was published by the Oxford University Press. The book is part of the O.U.P.’s English Literature/History of Pakistan syllabus in a number of schools in Pakistan.

2002:

Was asked by the Oxford University Press to write more stories for children. Had time to write only one story, ‘Fatima and Asghari Begum’, which is still not published.

Another unpublished work is a collection of humorous short stories titled ‘Laughter and the Love of Friends’.

Feb 2000-Nov 2002:

As spouse of the Foreign Secretary, was President of the Pakistan Foreign Office Women’s Association (PFOWA).

When my husband was appointed as State Minister for Foreign Affairs, I became Patron of PFOWA.

Started publication of an annual literary magazine titled ‘The PFOWA Annual Gazette’.

Nov2007- March 2008:

Assumed the role of Patron of PFOWA again during the period of appointment of my husband as Foreign Minister of Pakistan.

The attorney practising at the Supreme Court, who was one of the leading youth politicians of the UNP always wanted to become a part of the political process of the country. He learnt the ABC of politics when he was a member of the Ananda College Student Movement and the Sri Lanka Law College had become a fine platform for the young lawyer Rohitha to gain more experience in politics as he was an active member of the Law College student movement.

Rohitha was a working committee member of the UNP for over 13 years, and then, having had a long career in law from 1976 to 1999, he entered Parliament in 2000 representing the Kurunegala District. “I liked politics from my young days and I am a trained politician”, says Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama, adding that he trained overseas in political management activities.

“Serve people when you can!” That is the motto of the Minister who had the privilege of going around the globe strengthening bilateral and multi-lateral ties between Sri Lanka and the rest of the world.

Any challenge for him, he says, is just another opportunity for ‘me to do my work with more responsibility’. “I do not take anything as challenges, but opportunities”, he says of himself.

“Are you satisfied with the work you have done for the poor people in your electorate, Nikaweratiya?”, I asked him. He gives a list of things that he has done for the country as the former chief of the Board of Investment, Minister of Industries, Enterprise Development Promotion and Minister of Foreign Affairs. “I would like to reflect on my overall services to the country.

I am satisfied with the landmark developments that I have been able to do during my career in politics. As the Minister of Industries, I was able to register over Rs. 602 million FDIs for the first time in Sri Lanka. I was instrumental in introducing the National Enterprise Development Authority Bill. I was able to take small industries to the outskirts of the country.

The Pallekelle Free Trade Zone is my brain-child. As the Foreign Minister I was able to bring the SAARC chair to Sri Lanka within a year”, he goes on with the list, a proud tone echoing his achievements.

This politician, whose roots date back to the UNP says he will never shift his strides back to the UNP and is determined to remain as UPFAer.

Never tired after flying from one country to another and even after brain storming sessions on serious issues, The Minister of Foreign Affairs says he can sleep well and he is always stress free. Read whatever comes his way he is happy after a jogging sessions or a walk. “ I live a stress free life”, Minister Bogollagama says.