The Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka to Spain Manisha Gunasekera presented Open Copies of her Letters of Credence to the Director General for Protocol, Chancery and Orders Ambassador María Sebastían de Erice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain on Wednesday, 10 July 2024 in Madrid. The Director General for Protocol warmly welcomed the Ambassador to Spain and wished her well in her assignment and engagement with the Spanish authorities, pending the formal presentation of Credentials.
During the visit, Ambassador Gunasekera met the Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs Diego Martínez Belío, and the Director General for North America, Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Carlos Moreno of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. The senior official meetings focused on areas of mutual interest; means of further consolidating bilateral cooperation; promoting trade, investment and tourism; as well as connectivity and people-to-people contacts. Cooperation between the two countries in multilateral fora was also discussed.
The Ambassador also presented her Letters of Credence to the Secretary-General of UN Tourism (World Tourism Organization) Zurab Pololikashvili as Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to UN Tourism at their Headquarters in Madrid on Thursday, 11 July 2024. The presentation of Letters of Credence was followed by a productive discussionwith Secretary-General Pololikashvili and senior officials of the Organisation. The discussions focussed on Sri Lanka's proactive engagement and cooperation with UN Tourism,modalities of further collaboration, as well as the country’s commitment to further developing tourism infrastructure and promoting sustainable tourism practices.
The Ambassador was accompanied to the meetings by the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Barcelona Augustin Llanas Armet. Manisha Gunasekera is the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France and the Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO, with concurrent accreditation to Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Monaco.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Paris, France
07 August 2024
