High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Canberra presents credentials

June 5, 2025

High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Canberra, Yasoja Gunasekera presented her Letters of Credence to H.E. Samantha Joy Mostyn AC, Governor General of Australia on 04 June 2025, at Government House in Canberra.

The credentials ceremony featured a Guard of Honour by Australia’s Federation Guard and the Band of the Royal Military College, Duntroon which was followed by the presentation of credentials and a courtesy call on the Governor General. New envoys to Canberra were blessed by a traditional welcome to country and smoking ceremony performed by local Aboriginal representatives, offering safe passage and spiritual protection during their presence on country. Thereafter H.E the Governor General hosted the newly accredited Heads of Mission to a lunch reception.

 

Following the presentation of credentials, H.E. Samantha Joy Mostyn AC, extended her congratulations to High Commissioner Gunasekera on her new assignment as Sri Lanka’s envoy to Australia and warmly recalled a private visit to Sri Lanka. The Governor General referred to the close bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and Australia and the contribution of the large Sri Lankan community in Australia. High Commissioner Gunasekera conveyed the warm greetings of President Anura Kumara Disanayaka and her intention to explore new areas of cooperation between Sri Lanka and Australia and further enhance the existing ties between the two countries. In particular, Sri Lanka’s keen interest in further diversifying and deepening trade and economic ties with Australia was highlighted.

 

Minister of the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra, Mr. U.G.C. Abeyratne and Counsellor Defence, Captain Lanka Dissanayake accompanied High Commissioner Yasoja Gunasekera to the ceremony.

 

High Commissioner Yasoja Gunasekera is a career diplomat who joined the Foreign Service in 1996 and has served in various capacities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and in Sri Lanka Missions and Posts overseas, including as Sri Lanka’s first Consul General to Guangzhou, China from 2012 – 2015; High Commissioner to Dhaka, Bangladesh from 2015 -2017 and Ambassador to Jakarta, Indonesia from 2019 – 2022. Prior to assuming duties in Canberra she was Additional Secretary, East Asia; Middle East and Africa in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.