Five more diplomatic appointments made

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday confirmed the appointments of new envoys to five more countries.

The five nominees have received the concurrence of their respective receiving states and have been cleared by the Sri Lanka Parliamentary Committee on High Posts as well, Ministry Spokesperson Mahishini Colonne said at a news briefing on Wednesday.

Attorney at Law A.L.T. Najeemudeen has been appointed as the next Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka Foreign Service member Yasoja Gunasekera, who was Consul General of Sri Lanka in Guangzhou, China, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka Administrative Service member Tilak Ranaviraja has been appointed as the next Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France. Ranaviraja has served in several capacities for over 42 years including as Secretary to several ministries. At present he is the CEO of the Environment Forum of Sri Lanka and functions as a Senior Advisor to the President.

Sri Lanka Foreign Service member Kandeepan Balasubramaniam has been appointed as the next Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Kuwait. He is currently Consul at the Sri Lanka Consulate in Chengdu.

An academic, Tikiri Herath Gunathilake has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Seychelles.

The respective Heads of Mission-designate are expected to take up their posts shortly.