Shobini Gunasekera, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation with concurrent accreditation to the Belarus, formally presented her Letters of Credence to President Aleksandr Lukashenko at a ceremony held at the Independence Palace in Minsk.
The event brought together ten newly appointed ambassadors from various countries, marking the official commencement of their diplomatic duties and highlighting Belarus’ continued engagement with the international community.
Conducted in accordance with diplomatic protocol, the ceremony signified the formal recognition of Ambassador Gunasekera’s role in strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Belarus.
In his address, President Lukashenko reaffirmed his government’s willingness to work closely with all represented nations, emphasizing the importance of dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation in addressing global and regional challenges.
He also highlighted the strong educational ties between Sri Lanka and Belarus, noting that a significant number of Sri Lankan doctors have received their medical education in Belarus, and encouraged further collaboration in higher education.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, Ambassador Gunasekera held discussions with Belarusian Foreign Ministry officials on enhancing bilateral cooperation, including proposed high-level visits, convening a trade commission in 2026, and exploring the establishment of direct air connectivity between the two countries.
These initiatives are expected to strengthen cooperation in key sectors such as education, trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
The Ambassador also conveyed greetings and best wishes from Sri Lanka’s leadership and people, reaffirming the country’s commitment to further deepening its longstanding and friendly relations with Belarus.
The Sri Lanka Embassy in Moscow noted that the presentation of credentials marks an important step in advancing diplomatic ties and expanding collaboration at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
