The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh has successfully conducted the 50th Session of its flagship community outreach initiative, “Talk to Your Ambassador,” today marking an important milestone in the Embassy’s continued efforts to strengthen engagement with the Sri Lankan expatriate community across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The programme was launched by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, with a view to facilitating direct communication between Sri Lankan nationals living and working in different parts of the Kingdom and their country’s Ambassador. This unique platform enables members of the community to discuss their concerns, seek guidance, share suggestions, and receive prompt assistance on a wide range of issues in an open, friendly, and accessible environment.
Speaking on the occasion of the 50th session, Ambassador Ameer Ajwad described the programme as a remarkable success story in the Embassy’s community outreach efforts. He expressed his satisfaction that this achievement coincides with National Integrity Week, being observed from 27 to 31 July 2026 under the directive of the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka as part of the national programme “A Culture of Integrity – A Clean Sri Lanka.” He noted that the “Talk to Your Ambassador” programme reflects the core values of integrity, transparency, accountability, and people-centred public service, which are at the heart of the Government’s national integrity initiative.
The Ambassador further noted that the programme has enabled the Embassy to identify and address a broad spectrum of issues affecting the Sri Lankan community, including labour and employment matters, documentation and consular services, welfare concerns, legal issues, repatriation assistance, family-related matters, trade and commerce as well as suggestions for improving Embassy services. He stated that, of the more than 1,000 queries and complaints received through the programme to date, over 800 have been successfully resolved either on the spot or through close coordination with the relevant Saudi authorities and institutions in Sri Lanka, while the remaining cases continue to be actively pursued by the Embassy. The Embassy is committed to maintaining an open-door policy and ensuring that every Sri Lankan in the Kingdom has direct access to their Embassy. ‘Talk to Your Ambassador’ reflects our people-centred approach to diplomacy and public service. Reaching the 50th session is a significant milestone that demonstrates the confidence the Sri Lankan community in Saudi Arabia has placed in this initiative, Ambassador Ameer Ajwad stated.
Since its inception in 2024, this community outreach initiative has evolved into one of the Embassy’s most successful and widely appreciated public engagement programmes. It has become a trusted platform through which Sri Lankan migrant workers, professionals, businesspersons, students, and families can interact directly with the Ambassador and Embassy officials without prior appointments or intermediaries.
The “Talk to Your Ambassador” programme has also served as an important platform for receiving constructive feedback from the community, enabling the Embassy to continuously improve its consular and welfare services while strengthening public confidence in the Mission.
In addition to addressing individual concerns, the programme has enhanced communication between the Embassy and the Sri Lankan community by increasing awareness of Embassy services, labour regulations, legal procedures, trade and business opportunities as well as policy developments relevant to Sri Lankan nationals residing overseas.
The Embassy encourages Sri Lankan nationals residing in Saudi Arabia to continue making use of this valuable platform to raise their issues and share their concerns, ideas, and suggestions, thereby further strengthening the partnership between the Embassy and the Sri Lankan community of migrants workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The programme is conducted fortnightly on Thursdays from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and can be accessed via the dedicated Telephone/WhatsApp/IMO number: +96656 975 3380
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Riyadh
30 July 2026
