(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Indonesia Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage presented credentials to President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo on 20 February 2023 at the Istana Merdeka, the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
During the brief media interaction, prior to the presentation of credentials, Ambassador Jayanath Colombage highlighted the longstanding bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and Indonesia in the political, economic and defence spheres since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1952. The Ambassador recalled the Bandung Conference, the first large-scale Afro- Asian Conference which Indonesia and Sri Lanka jointly organized in 1955, and resulted in the formation of the Non Aligned Movement. He also mentioned that the people of the two countries share civilizational, cultural and religious links which dates back several centuries.
Ambassador Jayanath Colombage highlighted that Sri Lanka and Indonesia are strategically important in maritime trade in the modern era. He stressed the importance of developing more connectivity between the two countries not only for the well-being of Indonesia and Sri Lanka but also for the whole world.
Ambassador Jayanath Colombage was previously Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Director General of the Institute of National Security Studies in Sri Lanka. He has served in the Sri Lanka Navy for a period of 36 years and was a former Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.
