Ambassador Ranaviraja extended the warmest felicitations of President Maithripala Sirisena to his counterpart.  The presentation ceremony was attended by senior French government officials from the Elysée Palace and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the senior Embassy officials.

During a brief audience that followed after the presentation of credentials and the official photograph being taken, the President and the Ambassador discussed the deep rooted bilateral relationship, their commitment to develop this further, and the importance of friendship between the two countries. Ambassador briefed President Hollande of the policies of the new Government.

At the conclusion of the main ceremony, the Protocol Department of the French Foreign Ministry escorted the Ambassador to the Embassy, where they also attended a reception organized to welcome the new Ambassador.

Ranaviraja is a senior public servant with a service spanning over 40 years and had served as Secretary to a number of key Ministers including Public Security, Law & Order, Mass Media & Communication, Post & Telecommunications, Health & Indigenous Medicines, Social Welfare, Power & Energy, and Mahaweli (River Basin) Development.  On the international front he had also served as a Consultant/Advisor to the UNDP/UNEP/UNHRC/WHO and the UNOPS.