August 30, 2009

The Government has decided to establish a resident Sri Lanka diplomatic mission in Eritrea, a nation in the Horn of Africa that was once part of Ethiopia and bordering Sudan and Djibouti.

The move follows a recommendation made by Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama. He told the Cabinet that close ties with Eritrea - a nation of five million people - in the field of trade, education and culture would be greatly beneficial. Also beneficial to Sri Lanka, he said, was the exchange of security and intelligence from that country.

Foreign Ministry officials said that the mission will be at Charge d’ Affaires level with home based officers and local staff. The head of the mission will be at the level of Minister Counsellor. The cost of the mission is estimated to cost US$ 350,000 (Rs. 42 million) per year, initially. Sri Lanka and Eritrea established diplomatic relations on November 15, 2007.

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