Ambassador of Sri Lanka Presents Letter of Credence to the President of Ukraine

H.E. Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka resident to Türkiye and also concurrently accredited to Ukraine, presented her Letter of Credence to H. E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine at the St. Sophia Cathedral, Holy Wisdom of God Cathedral, St. Sophia in Kyiv is a Christian cathedral in the centre of Kyiv on 24^th March 2025. The Cathedral, is a monument of Ukrainian architecture and monumental paintings and mosaics of the second decade of the 11^th century.

With establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, this visit further solidified the commitment to enhancing collaboration between the two nations.

Prior to the official ceremony, Ambassador Dissanayake presented open copies of her credential papers to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, H.E. Yevhen Perebyinis.

The ceremony of Presenting Letters of Credence was followed by a brief meeting between Ambassador Dissanayake and the President of Ukraine.

The Head of State congratulated Ambassador Dissanayake on the start of their diplomatic missions in Ukraine, and in turn Ambassador thanked for the opportunity amidst difficult times, and in diplomatic parlance, extended greetings on behalf Sri Lanka.

In his conversation with the Ambassador of Sri Lanka, the President Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is engaged in constructive negotiations currently with relevant parties and is ready to do everything possible to achieve peace as soon as possible. He added that Ukraine has proposed steps to lay the necessary foundation for a further negotiation process and counts on the support of this position from other nations and expressed hope for the intensification of cooperation and mentioned that Ukraine seeks “Sri Lanka’s active support for path towards securing a just and lasting peace based on UN Charter and International Law”.

Ambassador Dissanayake underscored that Sri Lanka too is strongly support for ongoing negotiations and sincerely hope that the on-going negotiations would pave the way for restoration of peace, at the earliest.

The President also noted that Ukraine is interested in developing bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, education, food security, and medical rehabilitation. In addition, Ambassador suggested possible cooperation in science and technology, pharmaceuticals and agricultural sectors.

Following the ceremony, Ambassador Dissanayake engaged in high-level discussions with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on 25^th March 2025. She met with the Head of the Fourth Territorial Department General, Head of the Department General of Consular Services and senior officials of the Economic Diplomacy on matters of mutual concerns, such as addressing ongoing consular matters and exploring avenues to strengthen economic relations between Sri Lanka and Ukraine, particularly on re-visiting pending bilateral agreements and following the processes in both countries to conclude those in a mutually beneficial manner. Both sides expressed their commitment to fostering deeper cooperation through educational and cultural exchanges as well.

On 25^th March 2025, Ambassador also had a meeting with the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, H. E. Oksen Lisovy. Discussions were focused on cooperation in Education, especially collaborations with universities in the western part of Ukraine which are not affected by the prevailing situation in some other parts of Ukraine, as well as possible research collaborations between like-minded institutes in the two countries.

Ukrainian side was much appreciative that two female Ambassadors, from Sri Lanka and Guatemala were the only Ambassadors who accepted the opportunity to present Credentials at this point of time.

The Hony. Consul for Sri Lanka in Ukraine, Mr. Kyrylo Kabanets joined meetings.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Türkiye, concurrently accredited to Ukraine, remains committed to strengthening diplomatic, economic, educational, and cultural ties, thereby fostering a deeper partnership between Sri Lanka and Ukraine for mutual growth and prosperity.