- Foreign Minister Ali Sabry has issued the following clarification on Sri Lanka’s Diplomatic Representation in Israel
In response to recent public discussions surrounding Sri Lanka’s diplomatic presence in Israel, wish to provide the following clarifications to prevent any misunderstandings:
1. **Sri Lanka’s Embassy in Tel Aviv**: Sri Lanka continues to maintain its official embassy in Tel Aviv, which has been the sole diplomatic mission in Israel since 2000. The embassy remains fully operational, serving as the primary diplomatic channel between the two countries.
2. **Honorary Consul in the Haifa Region**: Sri Lanka has appointed an honorary consul in the Haifa region to extend consular support to Sri Lankans living and working in the area. This appointment, made before the events of 7th October 2023, adheres to standard international practices. Honorary consuls, typically citizens of the host country, voluntarily provide essential consular services. The honorary consul in Haifa continues to offer such services, operating from an office they maintain in a voluntary capacity.
3. **No New Consulates or Honorary Consul Appointments**: Since the aforementioned date, Sri Lanka has not established any new consulates nor made additional honorary consul appointments in Israel. Any claims suggesting otherwise are inaccurate and do not reflect the official position or actions of the Sri Lankan government.
4. **Office Relocations**: It is customary for honorary consuls to relocate their offices within their jurisdiction based on personal or business considerations. These relocations are purely administrative and should not be misinterpreted as the establishment of new consular offices.
We encourage the public and media to rely on verified and official sources for accurate information regarding Sri Lanka’s diplomatic activities and to avoid being influenced by unfounded or incomplete reports.