RIYADH: Sri Lankan government on Wednesday named a new consul general for its consulate in Jeddah.
A senior official from the country’s External Affairs Ministry in Colombo told Arab News that Faizer Mackeen has been designated as the island’s consul general in the Western Province.
Mackeen will succeed former diplomat Adam Bawa Uthumalebbe, who left the Kingdom a year ago following the completion of his tour of duty in the Kingdom.
Mackeen is the former president of the Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) in Sri Lanka. He holds a diploma in business development and journalism.
Speaking to Arab News from Colombo, Mackeen said that he deemed it a great opportunity to serve his motherland in the holy land. He said that his first mission is to lift the image of his country in the Kingdom and explore new areas of cooperation in trade, investment and also in cultural fields.
He pointed out that a good number of Sri Lankan Muslims are currently studying at various universities in the Kingdom, and the Kingdom has been providing soft loans to Sri Lanka as and when required by the country.
The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Jeddah offers regular scholarships to outstanding students to pursue their higher studies in engineering, medicine, dentistry, agriculture and IT in the universities on the island.
He said that a good number of Sri Lankan Muslims come every year for Haj and Umrah during the pilgrimage season and that he would try to offer enhanced services to Colombo pilgrims with the cooperation of the Saudi government.
A senior official from the country’s External Affairs Ministry in Colombo told Arab News that Faizer Mackeen has been designated as the island’s consul general in the Western Province.
Mackeen will succeed former diplomat Adam Bawa Uthumalebbe, who left the Kingdom a year ago following the completion of his tour of duty in the Kingdom.
Mackeen is the former president of the Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) in Sri Lanka. He holds a diploma in business development and journalism.
Speaking to Arab News from Colombo, Mackeen said that he deemed it a great opportunity to serve his motherland in the holy land. He said that his first mission is to lift the image of his country in the Kingdom and explore new areas of cooperation in trade, investment and also in cultural fields.
He pointed out that a good number of Sri Lankan Muslims are currently studying at various universities in the Kingdom, and the Kingdom has been providing soft loans to Sri Lanka as and when required by the country.
The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Jeddah offers regular scholarships to outstanding students to pursue their higher studies in engineering, medicine, dentistry, agriculture and IT in the universities on the island.
He said that a good number of Sri Lankan Muslims come every year for Haj and Umrah during the pilgrimage season and that he would try to offer enhanced services to Colombo pilgrims with the cooperation of the Saudi government.
