The envoys are:

Mr. David McKinnon    -    High Commissioner of Canada

Mr. Yuri B Materiy    -    Ambassador of the Russian Federation

Mr. Mohamed Hussain Shareef    -    Ambassador of Maldives

Gen. (Retd) Shahid Ahmed Hashmat - High Commissioner for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Mr. Hussein El Saharty    -    Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt

President Sirisena, referring to close bilateral relations with Sri Lanka and the countries represented by the new envoys expressed confidence that they would strive to further strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation in many areas including trade, investment and tourism. He said the focus of Sri Lanka’s middle path foreign policy is to establish friendship with all the nations.

Acting Foreign Minister Wasantha Senanayake said that the new envoys have come to Sri Lanka at an important an interesting time as the country, under the leadership of President Sirisena has won the goodwill and support of the entire international community and striving towards economic development and reconciliation.

He said the countries represented by them could utilize the current conducive atmosphere for further expansion of economic ties, investments and bilateral trade.

Secretary to the President Austin Fernando and Foreign Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam were also present at this occasion.