Delay in obtaining Foreign Ministry endorsement on Export Documents

[National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka]

Dear Member

DELAY IN OBTAINING FOREIGN MINISTRY ENDORSEMENT ON EXPORT DOCUMENTS

We are quoting below a communiction received from the Director
General / Consular Affairs, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs -
Consular Affairs Division, in response to the representation made by
one of the Member Companies regarding the above subject.

The information contained therein may be of use to you :

QUOTE:

I write with reference to your letter dated 16th September 2009
addressed to Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs
concerning the above matter.

I wish to inform on an average 300 - 400 public used to visit the
Consular Affairs Division till first week of September 2009 for the
purpose of authentication of documents. However, the number went up
to 800 - 900 unexpectedly. This is due to the new requirements of
Police Clearance Certificates imposed by Qatar and Kuwait for
employment, change of sponsorship etc.

This unexpected upsurge of the public placed a great strain on the
limited resources of the Consular Affairs Division. Hence, the
special queue meant for the exporters was done away with. However, the
export documents are authenticated as a matter of priority. Even the
Police officers have been instructed to let in representatives from
export companies without any hindrance.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in the process of renting some
additional office space in the same building to decentralize the
authentication section. Once the additional space is obtained once
again a special counter will be opened for the exporters.

We understand and appreciate the importance of export. Everything
possible is being done to reinstate the special counter as soon as
possible. In the meantime we also have re-organized the
authentication section recently with a view to cut down the waiting
time. Arrangements are also being made to issue special passes for
the representatives from the export companies enabling them to have
access to HSZ where the Consular Affairs Division is housed in the
former BOI building. The representatives of the expot companies are
required to contact either Mr. A. Cristy Ruuban, Assistant Director
(Mobile No. 071 3283360) or Mr. N.M.M. Anas, Assistant Director (071
4915304) once they arrive at the Consular Affairs Division for their
requirements.

Any inconvenience caused to you due to the abolition of special
counter is highly regretted.

Yours sincerely

sgd/-.

Director General / Consular Affairs


UNQUOTE


Kind regards


L.S.G. Tillekeratne
Director Member Services & New Projects