Sri Lanka’s Embassies in Oslo and Baghdad, as well as the Consulate General in Sydney, have been temporarily closed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Following a recent Cabinet decision, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken steps to temporarily close the Sri Lankan embassies in Oslo, Norway, Baghdad, Iraq, and Sydney, Australia.
The decision to temporarily close the two Missions and Posts was made by the Government of Sri Lanka after careful consideration, according to the Foreign Ministry, and is part of a broader restructuring of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic representation abroad, which the Foreign Ministry is undertaking in light of the country’s current economic situation and foreign currency constraints.
The Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Stockholm, Sweden, will be concurrently accredited to Norway, and the Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will be concurrently accredited to Iraq following the closing of the two resident Missions.
The Consulate General in Sydney’s consular jurisdiction will be transferred to the Sri Lankan High Commission in Canberra, Australia, according to the Foreign Ministry, which also stated that it will take appropriate measures to address all consular-related matters of Sri Lankan citizens residing in Norway and Iraq, as well as within the consular jurisdiction of Sydney, through the new accreditation mentioned, as well as through the respective Honorary Consulates of Sri Lanka located there.
The decision to close the resident missions in Norway and Iraq, which is being taken as a temporary measure in the current context, will have no impact on Sri Lanka’s bilateral relations with the two countries, which are maintained at the highest level of friendship and cordiality, according to the Foreign Ministry.
