Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka to the Republic of the Philippines, Shobini Gunasekera assumed duties at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Manila on 04 September 2019.
In keeping with the tradition, the Ambassador-designate, first participated in religious observances which was followed by the lighting of the traditional oil lamp and a customary ceremony at the chancery to mark the occasion.
Addressing the staff, Ambassador-designate Gunasekara spoke of the need to think innovatively and work proactively to capitalize on accruing strengths and opportunities to take bilateral relations into new heights. She emphasized on the vibrant economic development process in the Philippines and saw the need to proactively engage with the Philippines to further enhance the existing political and economic partnership while also building bonds of friendship through cultural affinities.
Ambassador-designate Gunasekera joined the Sri Lanka Foreign service in 1998 and has served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Assistant Director of the Economic Affairs Division, Deputy Director of the Legal Affairs Division, Acting Director General of the East Asia and Pacific Division and Director General of Economic Affairs Division.
In her diplomatic career, she has served in the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels as the First Secretary, Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing as the Minister and Embassy of Sri Lanka in France as the Minister (Deputy Chief of Mission).
Prior to her appointment as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Philippines, Ambassador-designate Gunasekara served as the Director General of European Union, Commonwealth and Multilateral Treaties Division and Director General of UN Division and the Legal Division simultaneously in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ambassador-designate holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from the University of Colombo and was admitted to the Bar as an Attorney-at-Law in 1994. She also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Relations from the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS). She is a past pupil of Musaeus College, Colombo.
