Kshenuka - Sri Lanka's first woman Foreign Secretary

Veteran foreign service officer Kshenuka Senewiratne was last week appointed Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs.

She becomes Sri Lanka's first woman Foreign Secretary at a period which would be crucial for the country at the forthcoming United Nations Human Rights Commission sessions.

Kshenuka assumed duties succeeding Karunathilake Amunugama who retired from his post. Former Sri Lanka High Commissioner to the UK, Senewiratne served as the Additional Secretary to the Ministry before she was elevated to the top position.

She has been a distinguished career diplomat, a member of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service since 1985. A friendly and colourful personality, Kshenuka is a product of Ladies College, Colombo and graduated of the University of Salford, UK with a Bachelors degree majoring in Economics.

She subsequently obtained a Master's Degree in International Relations from the University of Colombo. She is a Chevening Scholar at the University of Oxford where she completed a Post Graduate Diploma in International Relations. She is considered an expert on multi-lateral affairs as well as bi lateral affairs and was the Additional Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs prior to her new appointment. Mrs. Senewiratne is the daughter of Mrs. Rupini Githa de Silva and Sathrine Deutram de Silva and is married to Suren Senewiratne.