Sri Lanka will temporarily close its embassies in Oslo, Norway, and Baghdad, Iraq, as well as its consulate general in Sydney, Australia, from April 30, 2022, the country’s foreign ministry announced in a statement on Tuesday. communicated, adding that he had initiated action for the same.

The ministry said the decision was made by the Sri Lankan government “after careful deliberation” amid the “current economic situation and currency constraints” facing the island nation.

“The decision regarding the temporary closure of the two missions and posts was taken by the Sri Lankan government after careful deliberation. It is part of a general restructuring of the Sri Lankan diplomatic representation abroad, undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the context of the current economic situation and the foreign exchange constraints facing the country. , we read in the press release.

“After the closure of the two resident missions, the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Stockholm, Sweden will be concurrently accredited to Norway, and the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates will be concurrently accredited to Iraq. consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General in Sydney will rest with the Sri Lankan High Commission in Canberra, Australia,” he added.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs will take appropriate steps to deal with all consular matters for Sri Lankan citizens residing in Norway and Iraq, and within the consular jurisdiction of Sydney, through the new accreditation/arrangement detailed above; as well as through the Sri Lankan Consulates located in Norway, Oslo and Australia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will carefully monitor the transition process,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the ministry finally said that the decision to temporarily close the resident missions in Norway and Iraq “would not affect Sri Lanka’s bilateral relations with the two countries which are maintained at an optimum level of friendship and cordiality”.

Posted: Tuesday 05 April 2022, 17:44 IST