Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — A.W.A. Salam assumed charge as the Sri Lanka’s new consul general in Jeddah recently.
A non-career diplomat, Justice Salam, as he is commonly known back home, was a well-known jurist in the country and an expert in jurisprudence. He last served as the president of the appellate court in Sri Lanka, after holding several other key positions.
Salam is well-versed in Arabic and is passionate about the Shariah jurisprudence.
“Engaging with the community will be my top priority,” said Salam, while revealing his plans to reach out to the Sri Lankan community spread in different provinces under the consulate’s jurisdiction.
The post of the consul general had been lying vacant for some time after the death of Faizer Mackeen last year following a cardiac arrest. Mackeen collapsed on the dais on the consulate premises as he was addressing the community at an event organized to commemorate the Independence Day of Sri Lanka on Feb. 4, 2017.