 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Ministry of Foreign Affairs" Sri Lanka – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(January 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| විදේශ කටයුතු අමාත්යාංශය வெளிநாட்டலுவல்கள் அமைச்சு | |
 | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1948 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Sri Lanka |
| Headquarters | Republic Building,Colombo 1 6°56′15″N79°50′40″E / 6.937517°N 79.844308°E /6.937517; 79.844308 |
| Minister responsible | |
| Deputy Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Child agencies | |
| Website | mfa.gov.lk |
| This article is part of a series on the |
| Politics of Sri Lanka |
|---|
|
|
|
|
TheMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Sinhala: විදේශ කටයුතු අමාත්යාංශයVidhesha Katayuthu Amathyanshaya;Tamil: வெளிநாட்டலுவல்கள் அமைச்சு) (also known as theForeign Ministry orExternal Affairs Ministry) is acabinetministry of theGovernment of Sri Lanka responsible for conducting and managingSri Lanka's foreign relations[1] through oversight of its missions abroad via theSri Lanka Overseas Service, as well as drafting and general implementation of the nation's foreign policy.[2]
The ministry was formally established in 1948[3] following the independence of Ceylon as theMinistry of External Affairs and Defence, coming under the direct control of thePrime Minister of Ceylon. In 1977 the government led byJ.R Jayawardena divided the ministry in two, forming theMinistry of Defence and the Ministry of External Affairs.[4]A.C.S Hameed was appointed as the first minister of External Affairs on 23 July 1977.[5]
The ministry has 65 overseas missions including 13High Commissions, a Deputy High Commission, 37 Embassies, 2 Permanent Representations to theUnited Nations, 11 consulates and a representative office. It provides consular assistance to Sri Lankans traveling, working and studying overseas.
Informally referred to as the Foreign Secretary.
 |
| Africa | | |
|---|---|---|
| Americas | ||
| Asia | ||
| Europe | ||
| Oceania | ||
| Former countries | ||
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minister) | ||
| International organizations | ||
| Culture and education |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, exports, and resources | ||
| Health, employment, and wellbeing | ||
| Law, finance, and politics | ||
| Development and forces | ||
| Defunct | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
