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New SL Ambassadors present credentials- Iran

The newly appointed Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Iran, Y.K.A. Rohanajith, presented his credentials to Dr. Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran recently.

Following the presentation of his credentials, Ambassador Rohanajith briefed the President of Iran on the Parliamentary Election that was held in Sri Lanka on August 17 and on the action taken by the new Government in Sri Lanka to implement their programmes and policies. Referring to the friendly relations between Sri Lanka and Iran, Ambassador Rohanajith said that he looked forward to working closely with the Government of Iran to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Ambassador also stated that Sri Lanka had welcomed the successful conclusion of the negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 in Vienna on 14 July 2015 and appreciated the assistance of the Government of Iran in funding two leading projects in Sri Lanka: the Uma Oya Multipurpose Project and the Rural Electrification Project. With regard to the bilateral trade between the two countries, the Ambassador underscored the need to further promote bilateral trade and highlighted that the next Session of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation between Sri Lanka and Iran would provide an opportunity to discuss and consider various matters to further promote bilateral trade between the two countries. The President of Iran expressed the hope that the cordial relations between Iran and Sri Lanka would be further strengthened and the President wished Ambassador Rohanajith a successful tenure in Iran. Ambassador Rohanajith also met Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran earlier.

Ambassador Rohanajith joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1994 and has served at several Sri Lanka missions abroad. He was also a former Director at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal. He has obtained a BA (Political Science) and a Postgraduate Diploma from the University of Peradeniya and obtained an MSc in International Relations.

- Seoul

The newly appointed ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Korea, Manisha Gunasekera presented her credentials to President Park Guen-Hye at the President's office.

President Park welcomed the new Ambassador and spoke of the bilateral relations which exist between the two countries.

The Ambassador expressed Sri Lanka's deep appreciation to the Republic of Korea for hosting a 30,000 strong Sri Lankan expatriate community which is making a significant contribution to the economy, as well as for the support extended through development cooperation over the years. She also referred to the interest of the Sri Lankan Government to further elevate the existing close and friendly relations, with particular emphasis on the political and economic spheres, in the context of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations of the two countries scheduled for 2017.

Ambassador Gunasekera joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1996, and has among other posts, served as Sri Lanka's Deputy Permanent Representative in Geneva, Director General/Donor Coordination of the Ministry of Economic Development, and Director General/East Asia and Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka.