Sri Lanka and India have formalized the agreement to establish additional diplomatic offices. While India is to set up new Consulate General offices in Jaffna and Hambantota, in addition to the High Commission in Colombo and Assistant High Commissioner's office in Kandy, Sri Lanka is to add a fourth Consulate General office in an Indian city in addition to the High Commission in New Delhi, Deputy High Commissioner's office in Chennai and Consulate in Mumbai.

In order to formalize the understanding reached in this regard between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the Sri Lankan President's recent state visit to India, notes were exchanged today at the Ministry of External Affairs in Colombo between Foreign Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe and High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha.

Two countries have 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 is, at present, looked after by the 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.