(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Three new Ambassadors and two High Commissioners presented credentials to President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s House, Colombo, today (October 23).
The envoys are:
01 Mr. David McKinnon- High Commissioner of Canada
02 Mr. Yuri B Materiy – Ambassador of the Russian Federation
03 Mr. Mohamed Hussain Shareef- Ambassador of Maldives
04 Gen. (Retd) Shahid Ahmed Hashmat- High Commissioner for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
05 Mr Hussein El Saharty – Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt
President Sirisena, referring to close bilateral relations with Sri Lanka and the countries represented by the new envoys expressed confidence that they would strive to further strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation in many areas including trade, investment and tourism. He said the focus of Sri Lanka’s middle path foreign policy is to establish friendship with all the nations.
Acting Foreign Minister Wasantha Senanayake said that the new envoys have come to Sri Lanka at an important an interesting time as the country, under the leadership of President Sirisena has won the goodwill and support of the entire international community and striving towards economic development and reconciliation. He said the countries represented by them could utilize the current conducive atmosphere for further expansion of economic ties, investments and bilateral trade.
Secretary to the President Austin Fernando and Foreign Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam were also present at this occasion.
