Colombo, Feb 16 (IANS): Thirty-six political appointees deployed in Sri Lankan missions abroad have been told by the new government to return to the island by March, the government said in a statement Monday.

The appointees recalled include relatives of politicians and of public officials closely connected to those in the previous government, who were ousted from power following the defeat of former president Mahinda Rajapakse in last month's presidential election, Xinhua news agency reported.

The appointees have been informed that their tours of duty end with effect from March 10 this year, and have been instructed to return home, the statement said.

However, four former military officials who are also political appointees, have been allowed to stay on till their terms end, the statement added.

The move comes after the new Sri Lankan government headed by Rajapakse's one time health minister, Maithripala Sirisena, announced that it would recall all political appointees serving as diplomats in Sri Lankan missions overseas in an attempt to free the country's foreign service of politics.

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera last month announced that all political appointees serving as heads of mission in Sri Lankan diplomatic outposts abroad will be requested to submit their resignations.

Sanaraweera said the foreign ministry would revert to the older system of appointing heads of mission based on the old formula stipulated by former foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Sri Lanka has 62 missions and consulates overseas, of which 35 were headed by political appointees named during the previous Rajapaksa administration.