Saudi Arabia expands diplomatic outreach with Sri Lankan community program and Sierra Leone Islamic cooperation

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh marked the 50th session of its “Talk to Your Ambassador” outreach programme, allowing Sri Lankan expatriates in Saudi Arabia to raise concerns on labour, consular services, welfare and trade. Over 1,000 queries have been received, with more than 800 resolved through coordination with Saudi authorities, aligning with Sri Lanka’s National Integrity Week.

In a separate high‑level meeting in Riyadh, Sierra Leone’s ambassador and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Islamic Affairs agreed to deepen cooperation on Islamic education, pilgrimage support and counter‑extremism. The talks focused on expanding Hajj scholarship slots, enhancing training for imams, providing Qur’an copies, and supporting mosque construction, building on existing Saudi support for Muslim communities.

Both initiatives illustrate Saudi Arabia’s broader diplomatic engagement with African nations, combining community‑focused consular outreach and religious‑sector collaboration.