The Ambassador-designate to the Kingdom of Thailand Mrs. Samantha K. Jayasuriya assumed duties at the Sri Lanka Embassy on 8 August 2019. Addressing the staff members, the Ambassador-designate shared her vision and plans for the Embassy aiming at furthering the ongoing cordial bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Thailand. She further highlighted on the need to build upon the longstanding rich cultural and religious ties, as well as on further strengthening trade, investment, tourism and partnering in technical cooperation on areas of mutual interest for the betterment of both countries and peoples.
Ambassador-designate Jayasuriya is a career diplomatic officer with 21 years of experience. Since joining the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1998, she has held positions in various capacities both at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo and its overseas Missions. Immediately prior to been appointed as the Ambassador-Designate to Thailand, she served as the Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka at the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office in Geneva. Her professional service at Sri Lanka’s overseas Missions include Sri Lanka Embassy to Belgium, Luxemburg & European Union as Minister, the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York as Minister Counsellor and Counsellor, and Third Secretary of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Stockholm-Sweden.
In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, she held the positions of Director ( 2010-2012) and Deputy Director (2005-2006) of the United Nations, Multilateral Affairs, Human Rights and Conferences Division, Deputy Director of the Public Communications division, and Assistant Director of the South Asia and SAARC Division.
She holds a Masters of Arts Degree from University of Japan (IUJ) on a ADB Scholarship. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Mrs. Jaysuriya served in the Economic Affairs Department of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, as an Assistant Lecturer, pursuant to her graduation from the Faculty with BSc (Hons) degree in Agriculture with specialization in Agricultural Economics. Having obtained a Diploma in Journalism, Ambassador-designate Jayasuriya also practiced briefly as a freelance journalist.
Mrs. Jayasuriya is a past pupil of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo and Kottawa Dharmapala Vidyalaya.
