Sri Lanka currently has no ambassador in Iran, a key player in the volatile Middle Eastern conflict, according to reports received by Infosrilanka.lk. This diplomatic void comes after the former Ambassador to Iran, N.M. Zaheed of the Foreign Service was recalled to Sri Lanka just four months after his appointment last August.
Further inquiries by Infosrilanka.lk, prompted by unanswered calls to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Iran, revealed that no diplomatic officials are currently serving in the country. N.M. Zaheed, appointed as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Tehran last August, confirmed to BBC Sinhala that the Ambassadorial post at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Iran is currently vacant.
“I was appointed as the new Ambassador to Iran and went there in September last year. Before completing four months there, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed me to return to Sri Lanka. So, I came back. Now, there’s no one, no ambassador, no deputy ambassador, or anyone connected to the Foreign Service,” Zaheed stated.
He added, “Currently, only about four clerical staff are working at the embassy in Sri Lanka. Besides them, two Iranian nationals are also employed, one as a translator and another as a receptionist, with two others serving as drivers.”
On June 17, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed Parliament that the Sri Lankan Embassy in Tehran, Iran, had been relocated. The Minister stated that due to the prevailing situation in Iran, embassy officials have been moved to another location. However, he emphasized that all telephone numbers are being kept active to maintain essential diplomatic services.
Minister Herath further clarified that the relocation was a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of Sri Lankan Embassy staff in Tehran, given the ongoing attacks in the capital. He also noted that approximately 35 Sri Lankans are currently residing in Iran, and residents of Tehran are facing high risks.
