Several new foreign envoys who were assigned to Sri Lanka presented their credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today (14).

President’s Media Division issuing press release stated this was a historic moment as the credentials were presented via a video conferencing ceremony. This marks the first time in Sri Lanka for this ceremony to be conducted through the internet, the release read.

Reportedly, President Rajapaksa had instructed for the ceremony to be proceeded as per schedule instead of postponing the presentation ceremony until the COVID-19 crisis comes to an end.

Ambassador for the Federative Republic of Brazil, Ambassador for the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the High Commissioner of the Republic of India presented their credentials to the President in this manner.

During the short ceremony, the diplomats presented their credentials to the President by displaying it to the camera, followed by a welcome by President Rajapaksa.

PMD notes that this portraits one of the many innovative ways adopted by Sri Lanka in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sri Lanka, while successfully containing the virus, has continued to make progressive steps socially and economically and now diplomatically, stated PMD.

The envoys who presented their credentials today were:
1. Mr. Sergio Luiz Canaes - Ambassador-designate of the Federative Republic of Brazil
2. Mr. Hashem Ashjazadeh - Ambassador-designate of the Islamic Republic of Iran
3. Mr. Gopal Baglay - High Commissioner-designate of the Republic of India
 
Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Relations Ravinath Aryasinha and Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations Admiral Jayanath Colombage also participated at the ceremony.