17 December 2021 11:56 am Views - 12764
Sri Lanka is to shut three overseas Missions as part of moves to cut costs and save on much needed US Dollars, Daily Mirror learns.
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa urged continued support from all the Ministries to help Sri Lanka recover from the current economic crisis
Accordingly, the Foreign Ministry is to close the Sri Lankan Consulate in Frankfurt, the Embassy in Nigeria, and the Sri Lankan Consulate in Cyprus.
Foreign Minister, Professor G. L. Peiris told Daily Mirror, the operations of the Consulate in Frankfurt will be shifted to Berlin. He also said that under the current circumstances, it was found that the work of the Mission in Nigeria cannot continue. The Minister also said that the office of the Consulate General Of Sri Lanka in Cyprus will be closed. “This is part of a cost cutting process that all other ministries are also now following,” the Minister explained.
The Cabinet of Ministers had on Monday discussed the dollar crisis facing Sri Lanka and measures that need to be taken to address the issue, Daily Mirror learns.
Cabinet had met on Monday night and the meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in the absence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. According to sources, Sri Lanka’s urgent requirement for US Dollars had been discussed at the meeting.
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa had briefed the Cabinet on the status of Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves. The Finance Minister had appreciated the efforts of the Ministries to cut expenses. He said that the efforts had resulted in the Government making huge savings.
The Finance Minister urged continued support from all the Ministries to help Sri Lanka recover from the current economic crisis.(EASWARAN RUTNAM)