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Ambassador presents credentials

The newly appointed Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of the Philippines, Aruni Ranaraja presented her credentials to Benigno S. Aquino III, President of the Republic of the Philippines recently.

The ceremonies included a guard of honour at the Malacañan Palace and a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the national hero. Albert F. Del Rosario. Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Minda Calaguian-Cruz, Assistant Secretary's of Asia and Pacific Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs and senior officials of the government of the Philippines were present.

Ambassador Aruni Ranaraja is a career diplomat with a 19-year service, having served in diplomatic assignments at Sri Lanka's embassies in Belgium, the European Union, the Royal Kingdom of Thailand, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Italy.

She was the Director General for Africa in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo, prior to her present assignment. She holds a Masters degree in International Relations from the State University of Ukraine, Kiev and is a past pupil of Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy.