Presented Letters of Credence to Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace
Saroja Sirisena, high profile former Consul General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai has been appointed as Sri Lankan High Commissioner at London. High Commissioner Sirisena presented Letters of Credence to Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremonial event held at Buckingham Palace on March 10, 2020 with much fanfare.
High Commissioner Sirisena and her spouse, Dr. Sudath Talpahewa were escorted to Buckingham Palace, by traditional horse carriages of the Royal Mews. Others who were part of ceremony included Deputy High Commissioner Samantha Pathirana, Minister (Commercial) Dr. Lakimini Mendis, Minister Counsellor (Defence) Brigadier D.B.S.N. Bothota and Counsellor (Commonwealth and Political Affairs) N.L.A. Haleem.
On meeting with Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II, High Commissioner Sirisena conveyed greetings from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The discussion focused on deepening and intensifying the longstanding political, economic and cultural relations between Sri Lanka and the UK and also with the Commonwealth.
High Commissioner Sirisena and her spouse Dr. Sudath Talpahewa on their way to Buckingham Palace in traditional horse carriages of the Royal Mews.
She also highlighted the importance of further exploring trade and investment opportunities between the two countries after Brexit. Permanent Under Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Simon McDonald was also present the ceremony.
Soon after the presentation of credence, a reception was held at the High Commission. The event was organised for Members of the House of Lords and House of Commons. Representatives of the UK Government, members of the diplomatic corps based in London and the British-Sri Lankan community were also attended the event.
India Connection: Saroja Sirisena has served as Consul General of Sri Lanka in Commercial Capital of India, Mumbai. She served as CG more than three years and nine months. During her tenure as CG in Mumbai she was seen in almost all important diplomatic and significant events.
About High Commissioner Her Excellency Saroja Sirisena: High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in London, Sirisena completed her basic schooling from Devi Balika Vidyalaya at Colombo in Sri Lanka. She is a graduate of the University of Melbourne, Australia and the École Nationale d’Administration in France.
High Commissioner Saroja joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1998. Immediately prior to her appointment in London as High Commissioner, she served as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Austria and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office in Vienna.
Saroja Sirisena High Commissioner of Sri Lanka (Center) with officials from Sri Lanka High Commission in U.K. (All Photo source SL High Commission U.K.)
Enormous Diplomatic Experience: High Commissioner Sirisena has vast diplomatic experience. She began her career as Assistant Director/Economic Affairs in Sri Lanka in 1998 and climbed the ladder of success. She has held various imperative position in several part of the world that included Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Austria and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office in Vienna, Second Secretary in Embassy of Sri Lanka in Paris, First Secretary Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, Minister Counsellor Mission to the European Union, Brussels, and Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai. She has also held various position in Sri Lanka’s External Affair Ministry that includes Deputy Director, Director and Director General in Ministry of External Affairs
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