Media ReleaseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Colombo

Mr. Romesh Jayasinghe, a senior Foreign Service Officer who is currently the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in New Delhi has been appointed by H. E. the President as the new Foreign Secretary with effect from 1st October 2009. Mr. Jayasinghe will succeed Dr. Palitha Kohona, the current Foreign Secretary who has been appointed as Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ An Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, who was also Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, has been nominated to succeed Mr. Jayasinghe as Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s High Commissioner in New Delhi.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and currently a Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Kshenuka Senewiratne, has been appointed as Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There have been several other nominations as Heads of Missions, which are as follows:

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 1. Mrs. C. Wagiswara, An Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and previously Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Ambassador in Paris, as High Commissioner designate to Canada.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 2. Mr. Ahamed. A. Jawad, a Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and previously Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Ambassador in Norway, as Ambassador designate to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 3. Mr. Sarath Weragoda, Senior Attorney at Law as Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 4. Air Chief Marshall Donald Perera, former Chief of Defence Staff, as Ambassador designate to Israel.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 5. Mr. Dixon Dela Bandara, former Governor of the Northern Province as High Commissioner designate to the Maldives.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 6. Mr. Bennet Cooray, former Deputy Minister as Ambassador designate to the Philippines.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 7. Mr. Sarath Wijesinghe, Attorney at Law as Ambassador designate to the United Arab Emirates.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
28th August 2009