New envoys congratulate President for holding democratic elections

Three new Ambassadors presented their credentials to President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

Among those who presented their credentials were new US Ambassador Athul Keshap, Italian Ambassador Paolo Andrea Bartorelli and Dutch Ambassador Joanne Doornewaard.

President Sirisena, referring to the close bilateral relations with Sri Lanka and the countries represented by the new envoys, expressed confidence that they would strive to further strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation in many areas including trade, investment and tourism.

The President also recalled the close economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and the three counties represented by the new Ambassadors. He thanks them for the continuous assistance provided by their respective countries for Sri Lanka’s economic development. He also expressed gratitude for the support given by those countries in international forums.

The three ambassadors congratulated President Sirisena for holding a democratic and free and fair general election earlier this week. Italian Ambassador Bartorelli said his country could learn from the Sri Lankan democratic election process. “I was amazed at the way the Sri Lankan people were genuinely committed to the democratic election process,” he said. American Ambassador Keshap conveyed the best wishes of US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry to President Sirisena and assured him of the fullest US support to Sri Lanka’s economic development and reconciliation. He said that his country wished to take bilateral relations with Sri Lanka to new heights. Netherlands Ambassador Doornewaard assured the President that her country was ready to assist in Sri Lanka’s development activities and offered its support for the implementation of President Sirisena’s economic and development policies.

Pic by Sudath Silva