Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, on a three day official visit to Paris, from 1^st to 3^rd June 2016, reiterated his commitment to elevate the bilateral partnership with France to a higher level in all spheres of co-operation strengthening the existing bonds of friendship between the two countries.

His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mrs Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO and His Excellency Mr. Tilak Ranaviraja,  Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO at a ceremony for the presentation of the UNESCO medal by the Director-General of UNESCO to His Excellency the President on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of UNESCO.