During the State Visit of His Excellency the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to India in June 2010 and following his discussions with the Prime Minister of India, the two leaders had agreed on establishing the Consulates General of India in Jaffna and in Hambantota to reinforce consular cooperation and friendly links between the two countries. The Prime Minister of India had also welcomed Sri Lanka’s interest in establishing a further Post in India, in addition to those in Chennai and in Mumbai functioning under the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi.

In order to implement and formalize this understanding, an Exchange of Notes took place this morning at the Sri Lankan Ministry of External Affairs between Foreign Secretary C.R. Jayasinghe and High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha. It has accordingly been agreed that the consular district of the proposed Consulate General of India in Jaffna would cover the five districts of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, namely, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar. The consular district of the proposed Consulate General of India in Hambantota would cover the districts of Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Moneragala. (Moneragala will be transferred from the consular district of the existing Assistant High Commission of India in Kandy.) It has also been agreed that any expansion of the consular districts of the proposed Consulates General could be considered subsequently through mutual consent. The Government of India has also welcomed Sri Lanka’s interest in establishing a further Post in India, in addition to those in Chennai and in Mumbai functioning under the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi.

It is expected that the two Consulates General of India in Jaffna and Hambantota will be set up in the near future.