COLOMBO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan officials on Friday confirmed a Swedish government decision to close down its embassy in Colombo.
The Swedish Embassy in Colombo is scheduled to be closed by March 31, 2010, diplomatic officials said.
Sweden's Foreign Ministry said these measures are a necessary part of balancing the ministry's budget and adapting it to its allocated appropriations.
The Swedish government also decided to close its four Consulate General's offices in Kaliningrad, Canton, Los Angeles and New York.
Sri Lanka and Sweden were embroiled in a diplomatic row in April this year when the Swedish authorities claimed a visa for its Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was rejected by Colombo.
Bildt was intending to join British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in a visit to Colombo during the last stages of the government's military campaign against Tamil Tiger rebels.
The Sri Lankan government claimed Bildt was welcome to make a separate visit.
Sweden was a main development partner for Sri Lanka in the 1980s.
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