Business as usual at Colombo’s U.S. embassy despite its govt.’s shutdown

The partial shutdown of the U.S. government will not affect the workings of its Embassy in Colombo, an official here said.

The US embassy in Colombo will remain open for public business- including visas and support for American citizen’s services.

However, with no new Fiscal Year appropriations as at October 1, 2013, as required by law, only certain multiyear State Department and USAID accounts have residual funds available after September 30, 2013.

These funds will allow the State Department and USAID to continue functioning for a limited period of time, with the embassy remaining open, the official explained.