Sri Lanka may open honorary consulate in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: Thiruvananthapuram is slowly making its way up in the world of diplomacy. The state capital is all set to play host to consulates of more countries in the coming days. If things go as planned, in a few months’ time, Thiruvananthapuram will be home to two full-fledged consulates and two honorary ones. The latest is Sri Lanka. Colombo is reportedly eyeing Thiruvananthapuram as one of the two state capitals in the country for appointing a honorary consul.

In May, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed had announced in New Delhi that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had plans to open a full-fledged Consulate here. The UAE Consulate, he had said, would be opened in a few months’ time.

The island nation of Maldives has had a Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram for the past many years. Four years ago, Russia elevated its cultural centre in the city into a Honorary Consulate acknowledging the growing importance of the region in terms of Russia-collaborated projects such as the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project in nearby Tamil Nadu and the Titanium sponge project at KMML, Chavara.

Thiruvananthapuram will be home to two full-fledged consulates and two honorary ones. The latest is Sri Lanka.

France and Germany too have a presence here in the form of cultural centres. France has the Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum functioning at Vazhuthacaud and Germany, the Goethe Zentrum Trivandrum.

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