Foreign Ministry shifted out

The Foreign Affairs Ministry housed at Republic Building in the high security zone in Fort is likely to be shifted once a suitable building is found to house it, Parliament was told yesterday.

“It would be prudent to find alternative accommodation for the Ministry once a suitable building is found, taking into consideration the difficulties faced by foreign diplomats and the public who visit the Ministry for official work under prevailing security conditions, Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said.

The Chief Whip was replying a question raised by UNP MP Ranjith Aluvihare who asked what was behind the decision to hand over the building to the Presidential Secretariat.

Minister Fernandopulle did not mention of the Presidential Secretariat taking over the building but said the move was due to it being in a high security zone. The Foreign Ministry has been housed at the Republic Building since 1948.