President Ranil Wickremesinghe has received the credentials of five newly appointed High Commissioners and nine Ambassadors to Sri Lanka at the Colombo Fort President’s House this morning (05), the President’s Media Division reported.

The High Commissioners representing New Zealand, the Republic of Cyprus, the Maldives, the Republic of Sierra Leone, and the Republic of Mauritius were present there, the statement said.

Additionally, Ambassadors from the Republic of Guatemala, the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Republic of Estonia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Republic of Colombia, the Republic of Turkey, Ireland, the Hellenic Republic (Greece), and the Republic of Bulgaria also handed over their credentials.

A brief ceremony was organized at the Colombo Fort Presidential Palace to officially welcome the new High Commissioners and Ambassadors, the PMD said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, along with President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, were also present at the occasion.

Following the acceptance of credentials, President Ranil Wickremesinghe also engaged in friendly discussions with the new High Commissioners and Ambassadors. Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Ratnayaka, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aruni Wijewardena, and other officials also attended the event.

The new High Commissioners and Ambassadors:

1. Mr. Omar Castañeda Solares – Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala based in New Delhi.
2. Mr. Ali Achoui – Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria in New Delhi.
3. Ms. Marje Luup – Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia in New Delhi.
4. Mr. Bounmy Vanmany – Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic based in New Delhi.
5. Mr. Victor Hugo Echeverri – Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia based in New Delhi.
6. Mr. David Gregory Pine – High Commissioner of the New Zealand based in Colombo.
7. Mr. Semih Lütfü Turgut – Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye based in Colombo.
8. Mr. Evagoras Vryonides – High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus based in New Delhi.
9. Mr. Kevin Kelly – Ambassador of Ireland based in New Delhi.
10. Mr. Masood Imad – High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives based in Colombo.
11. Ms. Aliki Koutsomitopoulou – Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic based in New Delhi.
12. Mr. Abu Bakarr Karim – High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone based in Beijing.
13. Dr. Nikolay Yankov – Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria based in New Delhi.
14. Mr. Haymandoyal Dillum – High Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius based in New Delhi.