President Maithripala Sirisena has ,for the first time, explained why he recalled the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Austria and her staff for failing to answer a phone call. 

Addressing a public meeting, Sirisena said his staff attempted to contact the Ambassador over the phone for four and a half hours . 

Although six phones rang, the President said, no one answers . He said it was a serious situation as the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in Vienna offered services to several countries . 

Sirisena said the entire staff of the embassy was recalled as a lesson to all diplomatic mission. 

Former Parliament Secretary General Priyani Wijesekera was the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Austria.