Sunday Times 2
Ambassador Asirwatham presents credentials to EU president
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Grace Asirwatham, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the European Union, presented credentials to European Council President Donald Tusk on September 11 at a ceremony at the Europa Building of the European Council in Brussels.
During the “Exchange of Views” that followed, Ms. Asirwatham and Mr. Tusk acknowledged the significant growth in relations between Sri Lanka and the EU in recent years including the restoration of the GSP+ facility. It was noted that the EU was Sri Lanka’s largest export destination and that total trade now exceeded 5 billion euros annually.
The EU pledged continued support for a steadfast growth in economic relations, whilst mentioning the importance of continued dialogue on matters of mutual interest relating to respect for human rights, civil liberties and the rule of law. It was acknowledged that the European Union and Sri Lanka share common values and that they should continue to work closely to further enhance the multifaceted relationship.
Ambassador Asirwatham is a senior career diplomat of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service. She has previously served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to The Netherlands and Nepal and as Consul General in Bonn. As an international civil servant, she has also held the post of Deputy Director General of the Hague-based Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Jaffna and a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Colombo.