Moorthy then served in various diplomatic positions: first secretary in West Germany (1964-66); chargé d'affaires in Thailand (1969-70); permanent representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East; and chargé d'affaires in Iraq (1970). He returned to Sri Lanka in 1974 to co-ordinate the fifth Non-Aligned Summit which was to be held in Colombo in 1976. He was appointed High Commissioner to Pakistan in 1978 (also accredited to Iran). After the 1979 Iranian Revolution Moorthy played an important role in Sri Lankan government's attempts to free the US hostages in Iran.