President Anura Kumara Dissanayake underscored the critical responsibility of ambassadors in uplifting Sri Lanka’s image on the global stage.
Speaking at a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat today (07) regarding the appointment of new diplomats to the foreign service, the President highlighted past instances where certain diplomatic officials had tarnished the country’s reputation. He emphasized that such conduct would not be tolerated from the newly appointed diplomats.
The President instructed the appointees to prioritize providing fair and efficient services to all Sri Lankans living abroad, regardless of their background. He also urged them to pay particular attention to the needs of Sri Lankan expatriates in countries like the Middle East, South Korea, and Japan, where significant numbers of Sri Lankan workers reside.
President Dissanayake further noted that the diplomatic service holds the potential to attract foreign direct investments (FDIs) and identify new markets for Sri Lankan investors. He stressed that ambassadors must take the lead in boosting Sri Lanka’s economy by fostering international trade and investment, with the government offering its full support to such initiatives.
As part of strengthening the diplomatic service, the President announced the appointment of four ambassadors and one high commissioner, all of whom have over two decades of experience and expertise in diplomacy.
New Appointments:
- Ambassador to the State of Qatar – Mr. R.S. Khan Azad
- Ambassador to the Russian Federation – Mrs. S.K. Gunasekara
- Ambassador to Kuwait – Mr. L.P. Ratnayake
- Ambassador to Egypt – Mr. A.S.K. Seneviratne
- High Commissioner to New Zealand – Mr. W.G.S. Prasanna
The event was attended by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake and Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage.
