March 27, Colombo (LNW): The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Brazil, Sumith Dassanayake, who also serves as the concurrent envoy to Paraguay, recently presented his Letters of Credence to President Santiago Peña Palacios at the Presidential Palace in Asunción on March 19, 2024.
During the credential ceremony, Ambassador Dassanayake expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and conveyed Sri Lanka’s eagerness to strengthen ties with Paraguay. He specifically sought Paraguay’s support at the United Nations Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva, considering Paraguay’s current membership on the council. President Palacios assured his commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in this regard.
Prior to the ceremony, Ambassador Dassanayake held discussions with Paraguay’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rubén Ramĺez Lezcano, where they discussed socio-political and economic developments in Sri Lanka. The Ambassador proposed establishing a Joint Commission on Political and Economic Cooperation, a suggestion welcomed by the Foreign Minister.
Further engagements included discussions with Vice Minister Victor Alfredo Verdun Bitar on enhancing bilateral and multilateral relations, as well as expediting pending agreements between the two countries. These agreements cover areas such as political consultations, visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders, and cultural cooperation.
Ambassador Dassanayake also explored opportunities for Paraguayan entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka’s trade, tourism, and investment sectors during a meeting with Andrea J. Martinez Ayala, Head of Trade Affairs at Paraguay’s Foreign Trade and Investment Directorate.
Moreover, the Ambassador visited the Paraguayan Association of Travel and Tourism Companies (ASATUR) headquarters, where he discussed cooperation in the tourism sector with ASATUR President Monica Costa Barriocanal. Both parties agreed to facilitate collaboration between Paraguayan investors and Sri Lankan tour operators, further bolstering tourism ties between the two nations.
