Sri Lanka to close foreign missions amid economic meltdown

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Amid spreading protests against economic turmoil in the country, Sri Lanka on Tuesday announced that it will close several foreign missions.

The Foreign Ministry of the island nation said that embassies and a consulate will be temporarily closed in Norway, Iraq and Australia with effect from April 30.

“It is part of a general restructuring of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic representation overseas, undertaken by the Foreign Ministry in the context of the current economic situation and foreign currency constraints faced by the country,” the ministry said in a statement.

The announcement comes as Sri Lanka remains under a state of emergency to stem anti-government protests amid the economic crisis in the country.

Anti-government demonstrators have clashed with police while many have surrounded residences of ministers who have stepped down from their posts.

Early on Tuesday, around 40 lawmakers parted ways from the ruling United National Party, pressuring President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take steps towards economic reforms.

Rajapaksa on Monday called for a unity government to take the country out of the crisis but there is yet any development in this regard.

Lawmakers also criticized the state of emergency, calling for a referendum to check whether people support such a move.

Rajapaksa announced the emergency a day after a huge crowd gathered outside his home on Thursday and demanded his resignation.

He said that the state of emergency is necessary “in the interests of public security, the protection of public order, and maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.”

Sri Lanka has been reeling from the worst economic crisis, which has resulted in 13-hour-long rolling blackouts and a shortage of fuel, food and medicines supply.

The country, which needs to repay an estimated $7.3 billion in domestic and foreign loans over the next 12 months, is left with reserves of $2.31 billion as of February and may go bankrupt.