The new Indian High Commissioner, Ambassadors of Mongolia, Lithuania and Panama presented their credentials to President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s House on Tuesday (January 24).

Those who presented credentials were Ambassador of Mongolia, Gonchig Gangbold, Ambassador of Lithuania, Laimonas Talat-Kelpso, Ambassador of Panama, Sorvio Saul Sanudio Bethancourt and High Commissioner for India, Taranjith Singh Sandhu.

The President briefed the envoys about the three main objectives of the government – economic development and poverty alleviation, reconciliation in order to prevent recurrence of a conflict and establishment of friendly relations with all the countries.

President Sirisena, referring to close bilateral relations with Sri Lanka and the countries represented by the new envoys expressed confidence that they would strive to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and friendship, the PMD said.

The President also recalled the close cooperation between Sri Lanka and those countries at the international forums and thanked them for the support extended to Sri Lanka. He said Sri Lanka too would extend every possible assistance to those countries.

The President said he was aware that the new Indian High Commissioner Taranjith Singh Sandhu knows Sri Lanka very well as he served in this country earlier and expressed confidence that he would serve to further strengthen long-established Indo Sri Lanka relations during his tenure as High Commissioner.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Presidential Secretary P. B Abeykoon and Foreign Secretary Esala Weerakoon were also present on this occasion.