Shobini Gunasekera, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation with concurrent accreditation to Belarus, presented her Letters of Credence to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko at a formal ceremony held at the Independence Palace in Minsk.

The event, attended by ten newly appointed ambassadors from countries including Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, Japan, North Korea, Palestine, Somalia, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka, symbolized Belarus’s ongoing engagement with the international community. The ceremony marked the official start of Ambassador Gunasekera’s diplomatic duties in Belarus, conducted in accordance with established protocols.

In her address, Ambassador Gunasekera discussed potential high-level visits, the upcoming Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, and plans for regular flights between the two nations once an Air Services Agreement is signed. 

She also emphasised Sri Lanka’s interest in expanding educational and cultural cooperation, especially in the medical field.

President Lukashenko highlighted the strong educational ties between Belarus and Sri Lanka, noting that about one in five doctors in Sri Lanka trained in Belarus. He encouraged Sri Lankan students to consider Belarus as a reputable destination for higher education.

Following the ceremony, Ambassador Gunasekera engaged with Belarusian Foreign Ministry officials to strengthen cooperation in trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. She conveyed warm greetings from Sri Lanka’s President and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to deepening its friendly relations with Belarus.

The Sri Lanka Embassy stated that the credential presentation is a significant step toward enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation, further solidifying the enduring partnership between the two countries.