The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Indonesia, Dharshana M. Perera presented Credentials to the President of Indonesia Ir.H. Joko Widodo at the Istana Merdeka (Merdeka Palace) in Jakarta on Wednesday 3rd February 2016.
The event at the Palace included the ceremonial Guard of Honour and the playing of the National Anthem. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Mrs. Retno L.P. Marsudi, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Abdurrahman Mohammad Fachir, senior officials of the Indonesian President’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were among those present at the occasion. The Ambassador of Sri Lanka was among 12 other Ambassadors who presented Credentials to the President of Indonesia on Wednesday.
During the discussion which followed the presentation of credentials, Ambassador Dharshana Perera to Indonesian President Joko Widodo warm greetings and best wishes of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, as well as the people of Sri Lanka which was warmly reciprocated.
The Ambassador briefed the President on the developments in Sri Lanka following the elections in 2015 relating to the resolute steps taken to strengthen democracy, rule of law and good governance and the strong impetus placed on reinvigorating the economic and development agenda. Sri Lanka and Indonesia share valuable partnerships in regional and international fora including NAM, IORA and are partners in the Indian Ocean affairs, he said. On the bilateral front, recalling the age old connections between the countries and the contemporary relations formalized shortly after independence, the Ambassador observed the need to further invigorate the engagement especially in the political, trade, investment and tourism spheres. Other areas identified for focused cooperation include, marine and fisheries matters, education, commercial agriculture, cooperation between the Legislatures etc also require further invigoration, he said. Ambassador Dharshana Perera expressed his firm commitment to work closely with the Government of Indonesia to ensure that the relationship becomes more robust and mutually rewarding.
Ambassador Dharshana M. Perera is a career diplomat recruited to the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1996. He is a graduate (E) from the University of Peradeniya and an old boy of S. Thomas College Mt. Lavinia. This is his first appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka. He held several diplomatic positions at the Sri Lanka Missions in: Washington DC, Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, Embassy in Bangkok and Deputy Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, and at Embassies in Moscow, and Rome. During his tenure of service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he served in various capacities including as the Actg. Director General of South Asia and SAARC, as well as in Public Communications Div, Counter Terrorism Unit, European Affairs and Middle East and Africa Divisions.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Jakarta
4 February 2016
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Indonesia Dharshana M. Perera presents Credentials to the President of Indonesia Ir.H. Joko Widodo at the Istana Merdeka (Merdeka Palace) in Jakarta on Wednesday 3rd February 2016. Indonesian Foreign Minister Mrs. Retno L.P. Marsudi, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Abdurrahman Mohammad Fachir, senior officials of the Indonesian President’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are seen in the picture.
