Ambassador-designate Nirmala Indumathie Dias Paranavitana has officially assumed duties at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Addis Ababa, becoming the first Sri Lankan woman to serve as envoy to Ethiopia, the embassy said.
She will concurrently serve as Sri Lanka’s Permanent Observer to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Mrs. Paranavitana took office on April 28 and presented open copies of her Letters of Credence the same day to the Chief of Protocol of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aziza Geleta.
Outlining her priorities, Mrs. Paranavitana said she would deepen Sri Lanka’s engagement with Ethiopia and the wider African region, focusing on political dialogue, trade and investment, and people-to-people connections, while strengthening Sri Lanka’s role on regional and multilateral platforms based in Addis Ababa.
She called on embassy staff to align with these priorities and to deliver tangible outcomes that support national development and expand Sri Lanka’s partnerships across Africa.
A senior career diplomat, Mrs. Paranavitana most recently served as Director General of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. Her previous postings include assignments in Japan, India, Sweden, Myanmar and Sri Lanka’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
The embassy said in a statement that her appointment reflects Sri Lanka’s commitment to inclusive leadership in its diplomatic service, alongside global values on diversity and inclusion.
Source: Newswire.
