New Sri Lankan Ambassador presents credentials to President of France

Ambassador of Sri Lanka Tilak Ranaviraja presented his letter of credentials to the President of France François Hollande on 8 September.  The ceremonial event was held at the Elysée Presidential Palace in Paris.

Ambassador Ranaviraja extended the warmest felicitations of President Maithripala Sirisena to the French President.  The presentation ceremony was attended by senior French Government officials from the Elysée Palace and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the senior Embassy officials.

During a brief audience that followed after the presentation of credentials and the official photograph being taken, the President and the Ambassador discussed the deep rooted bilateral relationship, their commitment to develop this further, and the importance of friendship between the two countries. Ambassador briefed President Hollande of the policies of the new Government.

Ranaviraja served as Advisor to President Maithripala Sirisena since January this year. Ranaviraja is a senior public servant with a service spanning over 40 years and had served as Secretary to a number of key Ministers including Public Security, Law and Order, Mass Media and Communication, Post and Telecommunications, Health and Indigenous Medicines, Social Welfare, Power and Energy, and Mahaweli (River Basin) Development. On the international front he had also served as a Consultant/Advisor to the UNDP/UNEP/UNHRC/WHO and the UNOPS.