SL’s first ever ambassador to Ethiopia presents credentials

Sri Lanka’s first resident Ambassador to Ethiopia Sumith Dassanayake presented Credentials to the President of Ethiopia, Mulatu Teshome at the Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa last Thursday.

Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake is also the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the African Union, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said today.

During the discussion, which followed the presentation of Credentials, Ambassador Dassanayake conveyed the greetings and best wishes of the President, Prime Minister and the people of Sri Lanka to the President and the Government of Ethiopia which was warmly reciprocated.  

The Ambassador said that he is honored and privileged to take up the post as Sri Lanka’s first resident Ambassador in Ethiopia.

The President referred to the fruitful discussions he had with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera few weeks ago at the National Palace during the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministers’ official visit to Ethiopia.

The Ambassador also informed of the invitation extended to the President Mulatu Teshome to visit Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka established formal Diplomatic relations with Ethiopia in 1972. The Embassy of Sri Lanka was officially opened on February 7, this year by the Foreign Ministers of Sri Lanka and Ethiopia during Foreign Minister Samaraweera’s official visit to Ethiopia.

Ambassador Dassanayake is a career diplomat who joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1998. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kelaniya. He has held diplomatic positions at the Sri Lanka Missions in Canada, Norway and India.