Cash-strapped Sri Lanka has decided to temporarily close its embassies in Norway and Iraq as well as the country’s consulate in Sydney, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
A statement from the ministry said that this decision will be effective from April 30.
The ministry said the government’s decision to temporarily close two embassies and one consulate came after careful deliberation and was part of the general restructuring of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic representation abroad.
it refers to Current economic crisis and shortage of foreign exchange Sri Lanka suffered, which led to protests across the country and the resignation of the Sri Lankan cabinet.
According to the statement, following the closure of the two resident missions, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Stockholm, Sweden will be concurrently accredited to Norway and Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Abu Dhabi, Iraq.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the jurisdiction of the Consulate General in Sydney would revert to the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Canberra, Australia.
The Ministry has assured that it is appropriate to address all consular matters to Sri Lankan citizens residing in Norway and Iraq and within the consular jurisdiction of Sydney, as mentioned, as well as through relevant honorariums. will take measures
Sri Lankan consulates located in Norway, Oslo and Australia.
The ministry further said that it will carefully monitor the transition process.
The Foreign Ministry said that the decision to close the resident missions, taken as a temporary measure, will not affect Sri Lanka’s bilateral relations in any way with the two countries.