Sri Lanka Embassy In Libya To Remain Closed

- thesundayleader.lk

By Dinouk Colombage 

The Sri Lankan embassy will continue to remain closed in Libya, despite the death of Mohammed Gadaffi, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Sarath Dissanayake said. Dissanayake explained that Sri Lanka’s interests in Libya will be monitored by its Mission in Cairo.
Sri Lanka was one of the last embassies to withdraw its staff from Libya following the start of the war several months ago. “With the commencement of the NATO bombing campaign in Libya back in March embassies from around the world evacuated its staff, Sri Lanka was one of the last to do so’ according to Sarath Dissanayake, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs.
He explained that despite Gaddafi being killed and the National Transitional Council declaring the war over, the embassy will remain closed for the time being. ‘The NTC has suggested that warring factions are still in the country, until the situation improves we will not be sending back the embassy staff,” he said.
When asked whether this meant diplomatic ties with Libya had been frozen, Dissanayake responded that relations between the two countries will continue. ‘Sri Lanka’s interests in Libya will be monitored by our embassy in Cairo’.
Dissanayake stressed that the embassy remaining closed was not an indication of the government’s attitude towards the new government taking over in Libya.
“The Sri Lankan government will continue to help the people of Libya rebuild their lives after a damaging war,” he said. Sri Lanka has had a well publicised relationship with Libya and the former president, Mohammed Gaddafi, in the past. In 2009 Gaddafi offered Sri Lanka US 500 million dollars worth of aid to assist in the rebuilding of the North and East following the end of the war.
Libya was one of the countries that supported Sri Lanka when the UN Human Rights Council sought a resolution against the country following the conclusion of the 30 year civil war.
Earlier this year Sri Lanka turned to Libya’s defence, including that of then President Gaddafi, as the government officially condemned the bombing of the main cities by NATO bombers. In March hundreds of protesters gathered outside the UN office in Colombo demanding that the Western-led forces halt the bombing campaign over Libya.

You may also like

- island.lk

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev participated in the commissioning ceremony of Qiz Qalasi, the third dam jointly built by Iran and Azerbaijan on the Aras River held today (19). The helicopter Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi was traveling was involved in an accident in a mountainous area of the country’s East […]

- island.lk

A helicopter carrying the Iranian president has been involved in an accident, state media is reporting. State media says President Ebrahim Raisi was on board a helicopter that experienced a hard landing on Sunday.  It was also said to be carrying Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. The Interior Minister said rescuers were still trying to […]

- island.lk

During his official visit to Indonesia, President Ranil Wickremesinghe met with Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The meeting took place today (19) at the, United In Diversity Bali Campus on Kura Kura Bali Island. The discussion covered key topics such as the Global Blended Finance […]

- island.lk

President Ranil Wickremesinghe who is on an official two-day visit to Indonesia to participate in the high-level session of the 10th World Water Summit met with world-renowned entrepreneur Elon Musk today (19) to discuss the implementation of the “Starlink” service in Sri Lanka. (PMD)      

- island.lk

President Ranil Wickremesinghe embarked on an official two-day visit to Indonesia to participate in the high-level session of the 10th World Water Summit. He arrived at Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali yesterday (18). Invited by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, President Wickremesinghe was warmly received by Arifin Tasrif, the Indonesian Minister of Energy and […]

- island.lk

Vietnam’s governing Communist Party has nominated the public security minister to be the next president, state media reported, months after his predecessor stepped down as part of a anti-corruption crackdown. On Saturday, the party’s central committee picked To Lam, 66, the Vietnam News Agency reported. Lam has been public security minister since 2016 and has […]

Resources for Sri Lankan Charities:View All

How important are accountability and transparency for a charity to receive international donations
How important are accountability and transparency for a charity to receive international donations

Sri Lankan Events:View All

Sep 02 - 03 2023 12:00 am - 1:00 am Sri Lankan Events - Canada
Sep 09 2023 7:00 pm Sri Lankan Events - Australia
Sep 16 2023 6:00 pm - 11:30 pm Sri Lankan Events - USA
Oct 14 2023 8:00 am Sri Lankan Events - UK

Entertainment:View All

Technology:View All

Local News

Local News

Sri Lanka News

@2023 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Rev-Creations, Inc