In a landmark appointment, former Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya has been named Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York part of a sweeping diplomatic shake-up under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s leadership aimed at rebranding Sri Lanka on the global stage.
Speaking at the official appointment ceremony, President Dissanayake stressed that ambassadors must now do more than just represent the country they must become champions of Sri Lanka’s political transformation and actively elevate the nation’s image abroad. He instructed the new diplomats to serve Sri Lankans living overseas with fairness and empathy, ensuring embassies become true sanctuaries for their citizens.
The President emphasized that economic diplomacy is now central to their mandate. Ambassadors are expected to aggressively pursue foreign direct investment (FDI), attract tourism, and open international markets for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs. “Diplomatic missions must not only represent our interests but also deliver tangible economic gains,” he declared, promising full government support to meet these goals.
In a sharp contrast to previous administrations, President Dissanayake reassured the newly appointed envoys that his government would shield them from political fallout and uphold their dignity at all times.
Joining Jayasuriya in the new wave of appointments are several high-profile names:
- P.M. Kolonna as High Commissioner to India
- Rear Admiral Fred Seneviratne as High Commissioner to Pakistan
- R.M. Mahinda Ratnayake as Ambassador to Cuba
- Professor P. Janak Kumarasinghe as Ambassador to Japan
- Professor Arusha Cooray as Ambassador to the UAE
- S.D.N.U. Senadheera also appointed to a key diplomatic position
Foreign Secretary Aruni Ranaraja and Senior Additional Presidential Secretary Roshan Gamage were in attendance, underscoring the strategic importance of this diplomatic reset.
As Sri Lanka positions itself for global re-engagement, all eyes will be on these ambassadors to deliver results beyond protocol and bring home the investments, partnerships, and respect the country urgently needs.
