On February 23, 2021, Ambassador Prof. M. D. Lamawansa presented his Letter of Credence to His Excellency Armen Sarkissian, President of the Republic of Armenia, thus commencing his duties as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Armenia. The restricted ceremony, held at the Presidential Palace in Yerevan, capital of Armenia, in line with epidemiological requirements, was attended by spouse of the Ambassador Dr. T. Kannangara, Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in the Republic of Armenia Paron Sarghis Y. Tarverdian, and Personal Assistant to the Ambassador O. N. Romanova. The President of Armenia was accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Avet Adonts, Director of Asia-Pacific Department of the Armenian MFA Paron Mnatsakan Safarian, and Deputy Chief of State Protocol Paron Arman Aghajanian.
Warm regards on behalf of President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa were passed by the Ambassador to President of Armenia Armen Sarkissan. The ceremony was concluded by a concise conversation focused on Sri Lanka – Armenia interaction in the framework of international fora. During the conversation, the special emphasis was given to the areas of trade, education and health.
Prior to the presentation of Credentials to the Head of State on February 23, the Ambassador handed over the copies of Credentials and was granted the opportunity of a comprehensive discussion with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ara Aivazian. Ambassador Prof. Lamawansa briefed the Foreign Minister on the priorities of Sri Lanka’s leadership with respect to international and regional policy, the development programme encompassed by the Vistas of Prosperity and Spendour Manifesto, particularly the Sri Lankan President’s firm intention to boost bilateral trade, to diversify opportunities for direct investments in Sri Lanka.
Further, the Ambassador mentioned the importance of establishing cooperation in the field of education, particularly the university education which will extend further opportunities of bilateral exchanges contributing to modern technologies, medicine, engineering, as well as in cultural studies and overall cultural and spiritual ties as a way towards for mutual comprehension and the enhancement of people-to-people contacts.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Moscow
12 March 2021
