Udeni Rajapaksa presents credentials to South African President

High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to South Africa, Air Chief Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa (Retd), officially presented his Letters of Credence to the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, at the Sefako M. Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.

During the ceremony, High Commissioner Rajapaksa conveyed the greetings and best wishes of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to President Ramaphosa. He also recalled the recent meeting between the two leaders held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 23.

Highlighting the longstanding friendship between the two countries, the High Commissioner noted that Sri Lanka and South Africa share close ties through the Commonwealth, the Group of 77, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), built upon principles of multilateral cooperation and mutual respect.

He also briefed President Ramaphosa on Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), drawing inspiration from South Africa’s experience, and conveyed appreciation for South Africa’s continued support for the initiative.

Underscoring the importance of people-to-people connections, the High Commissioner emphasized the growing bonds between the citizens of both nations, particularly through sports diplomacy—especially cricket—which continues to serve as a bridge for deeper engagement.

In response, President Ramaphosa extended his warm greetings to President Dissanayake and reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Sri Lanka.

To mark the occasion, High Commissioner Rajapaksa presented President Ramaphosa with a traditional Sri Lankan ceremonial water vessel (Kendiya), symbolizing purity and goodwill, and crafted in the island’s distinctive artistic style.

A veteran of 37 years in the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Rajapaksa served as the 19th Commander of the Air Force in 2023. He is also a Member of the Institute of Management of Sri Lanka and an Associate Member of the Institution of Engineers of Sri Lanka.