VIDEO: New Sri Lankan High Commissioner presents credentials to Gov. Gen.Julie Payette.
Increasing trade and investment between Canada and Sri Lanka, reconciliation among ethnic communities, are top priorities for Asoka Girihagama, Sri Lanka’s new High Commissioner to Canada .
“I would like to promote reconciliation between our Sri Lankan communities here,” Girihagama told lankareporter.com in an interview at Rideau Hall shortly after he presented credentials to Governor-General Julie Payette earlier this week (Nov. 13).
The career-diplomat, said apart from looking into consular activities, other aspects related to human rights and personal issues of Sri Lankan communities would be prioritized during his tenure in Canada.
Asoka Girihagama, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, presented his letters of credence to Canadian Governor-General Julie Payette in Ottawa.
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High Commissioner Girihagama is a senior Diplomat counting over 26 years in the Sri Lanka Foreign Service. He has served in embassies and High Commissions of Sri Lanka in Hungary, Austria, New Delhi, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. Prior to his appointment as High Commissioner to Canada, he served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman and as Senior Director General, South Asia and SAARC.
He is married with one daughter.
Sri Lanka’s Deputy High Commissioner S. Khan and Consul General Toronto U.L.M Jauhur also attended the ceremony which welcomed the new heads of missions from Sri Lanka, Egypt, Mongolia, The Gambia and Uzbekistan.
Members of High Commission staff pose for a group photograph at the official residence.
