The newly appointed High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Bangladesh, Dharmapala Weerakkody presented Letters of Credence to His Excellency Mohammed Shahabuddin, President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on Thursday, 07 December 2023 at the Bangabhaban in Dhaka.
The credentials ceremony included a Guard of Honour at the Bangabhaban, the official residence and the office of the President of Bangladesh. The Guard of Honour was followed by the presentation of credentials and a brief meeting with the President of Bangladesh. Senior officials of the President’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh were present at the credential ceremony from the Bangladeshi side.
At the meeting, President Shahabuddin warmly welcomed the new High Commissioner Weerakkody and wished him well in his assignment. The President referred to the friendly and strong bilateral relations between the two countries covering multiple areas of cooperation and underscored the importance of further elevating this partnership to new heights through renewed initiatives.
High Commissioner Weerakkody thanked the President Shahabuddin for his kind sentiments and conveyed to him, the greetings and best wishes of His Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka which were warmly reciprocated by the President.
High Commissioner Weerakkody briefed President Shahabuddin on the prevailing economic situation in Sri Lanka and highlighted that Sri Lanka is now in an economic recovery phase with the support of its international partners. He further said that Sri Lanka is committed to deepening its longstanding friendly bilateral relationship with Bangladesh into a dynamic political, trade and business partnership by diversifying the areas of cooperation for the mutual benefit of both the nations.
High Commissioner Weerakkody joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 2000 and is a career diplomat with over 23 years of experience. He has served in various capacities both at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka as well as at Sri Lanka Missions abroad. He previously served as the Minister of the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra and in different diplomatic assignments at Sri Lanka Missions in Bangkok, Manila, Rome and Chennai.
Prior to his appointment as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Bangladesh, he was the Director General of South Asia Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka.
