The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Federative Republic of Brazil Sumith Dassanayake who is concurrently accredited to the Republic of Paraguay presented his Letters of Credence to the President Santiago Peña Palacios at ‘The Palacio de los López’ (Presidential Palace) on 19 March 2024 in Asunción.
Warmly welcoming Ambassador Dassanayake, the President of Paraguay extended his congratulations for a successful tenure of office. Considering close and cordial relations between the two countries, Ambassador Dassanyake requested the Paraguayan President to extend support to Sri Lanka especially at the United Nations Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva as Paraguay is a current member of the Council for which the President responded affirmatively.
Prior to the official Credential Ceremony, Ambassador Dassanyake called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay Rubén Ramĺez Lezcano. During the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador briefed him on socio- political and economic developments in Sri Lanka and also the progress Sri Lanka has made towards stabilizing the economy. He also highlighted the importance of consolidating relations between Sri Lanka and Paraguay in diverse fields. The Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed the proposal made by the Ambassador to establish a Joint Commission on Political and Economic Cooperation between the two countries.
The Sri Lankan Ambassador also discussed with the Vice Minister Victor Alfredo Verdun Bitar who is in- charge of the Asia Pacific region at the Foreign Ministry on further improvement of relations in both bilateral and multilateral areas. They also discussed on early conclusion of the pending agreements/MoUs between Sri Lanka and Paraguay vis-á-vis establishment of Political Consultations, Exemption for Visa for Diplomatic and Official Passport holders and, MoU on Cultural Cooperation.
During the meeting with the Head of Trade Affairs, Negotiations and Agreements of the Foreign Trade and Investment Directorate Andrea J. Martinez Ayala, Ambassador Dassanayake briefed her on the availability of opportunities for Paraguayan entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka in the sectors of Trade, Tourism and, Investments.
Ambassador Dassanayake also visited the Headquarters of the Paraguayan Association of Travel and Tourism Companies (ASATUR), which is the largest body of Travel Industry in Paraguay with a membership of over 100 companies. The Ambassador, at a meeting with the President of ASATUR Monica Costa Barriocanal highlighted the opportunities for Paraguayan investors to invest in the tourism sector in Sri Lanka. Both sides agreed to cooperate in the tourism sector and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brasilia will introduce leading Sri Lankan tour operators to the ASATUR in due course.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Brasilia
26 March 2024
