As part of its diplomatic revamp, the new Sri Lankan government has recalled 27 diplomats, including its ambassador and its consul general in the Kingdom, Colombo External Affairs Ministry (EAM) sources told Arab News on Monday.

Among those who have been recalled are Sri Lankan Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Mohamed in Riyadh and the Consul General in Jeddah Adam Bawa Uthumalebbe. They will be leaving the Kingdom shortly.

Sri Lanka’s new President Maithripala Sirisena, who came to power on Jan. 9, pledged that he would recall the “political” ambassadors who were appointed by the previous regime.

Hussein Mohamed, former mayor of Colombo, took charge of the Riyadh Embassy only seven months ago, while Uthumalebbe has served the Jeddah consulate for more than three years.

Ambassador Hussein Mohamed is the fourth envoy from the Riyadh Embassy to be recalled before the completion of their tenures. His predecessor, Vadivel Krishnamoorthy, was posted to Nairobi within a year from the date of his appointment to Riyadh.