Asked to return home, Lanka’s Amb in Oslo offers to move into low-budget building

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Oslo, Godfrey Cooray, has pleaded with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa not to close the diplomatic mission in Norway.

In a letter dated 20 April 2022, Cooray has said that the Norwegian Foreign Ministry and Sri Lankans residing there had expressed concern about the government move.

The Foreign Ministry recently announced the closure of several diplomatic missions as part of its cost cutting programme in view of the foreign exchange crisis. The mission was to cease operations on 30 April 2022.

Cooray, in his letter has listed Norwegian investments and projects currently underway in a bid to convince the government to rescind its decision.

Foreign Ministry sources said that the decision to close some missions had been taken after careful consideration.

According to Cooray letter seen by The Island, quarterly lease payments are as follows: the Chancery – Rs 9,841,057 (NOK 269,618.00), official residence of the Ambassador– 3,311,000 (NOK 50,000)/monthly) and an apartment for four staffers — Rs. 2,284,900 (NOK62,600).

Ambassador Cooray had said that they had identified a building for the Chancery that could also accommodate three staff with free parking facilities for NOK 40,000. (SF)