"Six Phones Rang For 4 1/2 Hours: No One Was There To Answer" President Explains Why He Recalled Vienna Embassy Staff

September 18, 2018

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.