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

According to the Sri Lanka Embassy in Moscow, the ceremony brought together ten newly appointed Ambassadors from Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, Japan, North Korea, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Somalia and Tanzania who formally assumed their diplomatic functions, reflecting Belarus’ continued engagement with the international community. 

The proceedings were conducted in accordance with established diplomatic protocol and marked the official commencement of the Ambassador’s duties in Belarus.

In his address to the assembled Ambassadors following the presentation of credentials, the President of Belarus underscored his government’s readiness to work closely with all countries represented. He stressed the importance of constructive dialogue, mutual respect, and collaboration in addressing global and regional challenges.

Notably, the President highlighted the longstanding educational ties between Sri Lanka and Belarus, observing that approximately one in five doctors in Sri Lanka have received their medical education in Belarus. In this regard, he encouraged the Ambassadors present to consider Belarus as a competitive and reputable destination for higher education, particularly in the field of medicine.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, Ambassador Gunasekera discussed with the Foreign Ministry officials of Belarus about proposed high-level visits, convening of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade in the latter half of 2026 and the establishment of possible regular flights between the two countries upon the signing of the proposed Air Services Agreement and further strengthening education co-operation.  

Such prospective engagements are expected to further enhance bilateral relations and provide an opportunity to explore cooperation in areas such as education, trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

Ambassador Gunasekera also conveyed warm greetings and best wishes of the President and the people of Sri Lanka to the President and the people of Belarus and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding and friendly relations with Belarus.

The Sri Lanka Embassy added that the presentation of Letters of Credence marks an important step in advancing diplomatic ties and further consolidating cooperation between Sri Lanka and Belarus at both bilateral and multilateral levels. (Newswire)

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Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, Shobini Gunasekera assumed duties at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow recently (19 Feb). 

According to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow, the occasion also coincided with the 68th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Russian Federation.

Ambassador Gunasekera is a career diplomat with over 27 years of experience in diplomacy including various assignments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Missions abroad.

Addressing the staff of the Embassy, Ambassador Gunasekera emphasized the time-tested enduring relations between Sri Lanka and the Russian Federation and underlined the strengths and potential to further consolidate the long-standing and friendly bilateral partnership in multiple spheres including political, economic, education, cultural, science and people to people ties.

She also underscored the need to think fresh and work proactively to support the three main pillars of the Government of Sri Lanka: eradication of poverty, digital economy and the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative. 

Ambassador Gunasekera joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1998 and served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Assistant Director of Economic Affairs from July 1998 to February 2001; as Deputy Director of Legal Affairs from March 2004 to February 2008; as Acting Director General of East Asia and the Pacific from March 2011 to June 2014; as Director General of Economic, Affairs from August 2017 to January 2018; as Director General of European Union, Commonwealth and Multilateral Treaties from January 2018 to January 2019; as Director General of both UN and the Legal Divisions simultaneously from January 2019 to August 2019, and as Director General of Europe and North America from January 2023 to February 2025. 

In her diplomatic career, she served as the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Republic of the Philippines from September 2019 to December 2022. 

The Ambassador’s diplomatic assignments abroad also include working in the Embassy of Sri Lanka in France as the Minister (Deputy Chief of Mission) from June 2014 to August 2017, in the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing as the Minister Counsellor from April 2007 to March 2011, in the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels as the First Secretary from February 2001 to April 2004.

Ambassador Gunasekera holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from the University of Colombo. She was admitted to the Bar as an Attorney-at-Law in 1994.  She is a past pupil of Musaeus College, Colombo. (Newswire)

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