Ambassador-designate Nirmala Indumathie Dias Paranavitana has officially assumed duties at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Addis Ababa.
She will also serve as Sri Lanka’s Permanent Observer to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
Taking office on April 28, 2026, she outlined priorities aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s engagement with Ethiopia and the wider African region, with a focus on political dialogue, trade and investment, and people-to-people relations.
She also emphasized the importance of enhancing Sri Lanka’s participation in regional and multilateral platforms based in Addis Ababa and urged embassy staff to work towards delivering tangible outcomes that support national development and expand partnerships across Africa.
Ambassador-designate Paranavitana has made history as the first Sri Lankan woman to hold this position in Ethiopia and to serve as Permanent Observer to both the African Union and UNECA.
The Embassy noted that her appointment reflects Sri Lanka’s commitment to inclusive leadership and its alignment with global values of diversity and representation.
As part of the accreditation process, she presented the open copies of her Letters of Credence to Aziza Geleta, Chief of Protocol at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A senior career diplomat, she most recently served as Director General of Consular Affairs at Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and has previously served in Japan, India, Sweden, Myanmar, and at Sri Lanka’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
