Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam assumed duties at the Embassy of Sri Lanka to United States at Washington D.C. on June 23, 2014. President Obama is scheduled to receive Ambassador Kariyawasam on July 14, 2014 at the Oval Office of the White House at a Ceremony accepting the Credentials of the new Sri Lankan envoy.

 

Born on 21st March 1954, Ambassador Kariyawasam joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1981. During his long career he has held a number of diplomatic assignments including the posts of High Commissioner for Sri Lanka to India, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva (2001 to 2004), Consul General of Sri Lanka to Switzerland, Personal Representative of the Head of State of Sri Lanka to the G-15 and accredited Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Holy See in the Vatican.

 

In recognition as the envoy of Sri Lanka to Vatican His Holiness Pope John Paul II bestowed the insignia of the “Grand-Cross of the order of Saint Gregory the Great” to Ambassador Kariyawasam.

 

He has also held a number of important positions at the ministry of external affairs including that of Additional Secretary in the Ministry in charge of Multilateral Affairs, South Asia and Administration. He was the Alternate Representative of Sri Lanka at the 53rd, 54th and 55th Sessions of the United Nations (UN) Commission for Human Rights (CHR) held in Geneva. He was elected as a Vice-Chairperson and served in the Expanded Bureau of the 59th CHR. At the World Conference against Racism held in Durban in 2001, he was elected as the Vice-Chair of the main Committee.

 

He served as a Vice-Chairperson of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations for the year 2006 and was elected as a Vice President of the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations for the years 2007/2008. Mr. Kariyawasam was elected as the President of the Council of the International Organization for Migration for the years 2001-2002 at its 50th anniversary session.