Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Federative Republic of Brazil, Mr. Musthafa Mohamed Jaffeer presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Suriname, His Excellency Desiré Delano Bouterse, accrediting the former as Sri Lanka’s envoy to the Republic of Suriname with resident in Brasília, Brazil at the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo, Suriname at a solemn ceremony held on 12 December 2018.
At the Presidential Palace, on arrival of the Ambassador designate, the Presidential Guard accorded ceremonial welcome to him, by playing the Sri Lanka’s national anthem and extending an honour guard. Following that ceremony, at the ceremonial hall of the Presidential Palace, Ambassador Jaffeer presented the credential papers to President Bouterse. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname, H.E. Yldiz Deborah Pollack-Beighle and Hon. Errol Liakatali Alibux, the Foreign Policy Advisor to the President were also present at that occasion. Dr. Ashwien Toelsie Kanhai, Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka to Suriname accompanied the Ambassador during that ceremony.
Following the presentation of credentials, at a brief discussion held between President Bouterse and Ambassador Jaffeer, the President warmly welcomed the new Ambassador and extended his good wishes for the latter´s successful tenure of office. While acknowledging the close bilateral and multilateral ties and cooperation that have been nurtured over the years between Suriname and Sri Lanka, President Bouterse underscored the need for both countries, as developing nations, to further expand the level of cooperation in areas of interests. In this regard, the President expressed Suriname’s keenness to focus on cooperating in investments, trade, agriculture and irrigation management sectors. While endorsing the President’s sentiments, Ambassador Jaffeer informed the President that he would follow up with the relevant Suriname and Sri Lankan agencies to translate those goals into concrete action.
On the same day, Ambassador Jaffeer also called on H.E. Yldiz Deborah Pollack-Beighle, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paramaribo and discussed on the status and progress of bilateral relations between the two countries. At this meeting, the Foreign Minister outlined her country’s interest in cooperating and sharing experience in forest conservation, irrigation, agriculture, development of renewable energy sources and emphasized on realizing these objectives into concrete action. Endorsing the Foreign Minister’s comments, the Sri Lankan Ambassador stated that he would follow up with relevant Sri Lankan government agencies and the private sector to identify areas of interests and expertise to forge further cooperation with her country.
During his visit, Ambassador Jaffeer paid a courtesy callon Hon. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Suriname, and also held discussions with H.E. Stephen Tsang, Minister of Trade, H.E. Lilian Ferrier, Minister of Education, Science & Culture, H.E. Lekhram Soerdjan, Minister of Agriculture with a view to forge further links between the two countries in the respective fields.
He alsohad a meeting with Mr. Anilkumar Padarath Jayant, Chairmen of the Suriname Chamber of Commerce and Board members to identify the business opportunities for Sri Lankan business ventures in Suriname by strengthening trade, economic and bilateral relations between the two countries. At this meeting, Mr. Padrath invited Sri Lankan business enterprises to take more proactive role in engaging with Suriname as that country has not been fully tapped by Sri Lankan business enterprises.
Ambassador Jaffeerwho joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1988is currently serving as the Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil since September 2018. In addition to Suriname, Ambassador Jaffeer is concurrently accredited to Argentina and Colombia.
