COLOMBO, March 2020: The Ministry of Foreign Relations has decided to suspend all services offered by the Consular Affairs Division of the Ministry until 20 March 2020 (Friday), to support the Government’s efforts at restricting the congregation of the general public, to help ensure that the public and staff are not vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19.
Accordingly, the Consular Affairs Division situated at the Ceylinco Building in Colombo will remain closed for visitors for normal business in the upcoming four days from 17 to 20 March, and will only accept queries related to death cases of Sri Lankans overseas and death-related documentation assistance, strictly on prior appointment basis.
Appointments may be obtained at the following emergency lines:
Tel: +94 (011) 233 5942
Tel: +94 (011) 233 8847
Further, in view of the present circumstances of the rapid spread of COVID-19 globally, and in order to limit the spread of the virus among Sri Lankans who visit Sri Lankan diplomatic missions overseas, the Ministry of Foreign Relations has decided to limit the provision of consular services in 14 Sri Lankan missions overseas commencing 16 March until further notice.
These countries include Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden and Austria. The Ministry of Foreign Relations has also initiated similar action to regulate the consular services in the foreign missions in Brussels, London and Oslo.
This decision has been taken in view of the strict restrictive procedures of travel bans and lockdown measures taken by the respective authorities of the countries concerned and also the recent travel ban imposed by the Government of Sri Lanka on all travel originating from these countries.
Hence, from 16 March 2020 onwards and until further notice, these Missions have arranged to restrict services related only to the issuance of temporary/emergency travel documents, issuance and certification of documents relevant to deaths of Sri Lankans and any other emergency consular service, which is deemed necessary, on a case by case basis. This will be done based on prior appointments obtained from the Missions.
In order to secure early appointments and to obtain the restricted consular services and related information, emergency contact numbers have been provided by the Sri Lanka Missions to visitors.
Meanwhile, on learning that one of the family members of an officer of the Foreign Ministry is diagnosed with COVID -19, the Ministry, upon seeking necessary medical advice, has taken a series of precautionary measures to avoid and minimize the risk of transmission of the virus.
The officer concerned has been self quarantined since Friday.13 March.
As an initial step, those staff who have come in direct contact with the officer concerned, during one working day earlier this week in Colombo, and others in an European capital where the person was working two weeks ago, have been advised to ‘self quarantine’. Further action has been taken to disinfect the relevant areas of the Ministry.
The Ministry will continue to monitor and assess the situation for future course of action to ensure the safety of its staff and its visitors.
