Brussels welcomes Ambassador designate Grace Asirwatham

Ambassador designate of Sri Lanka to Belgium and the European Union Grace Asirwatham assumed duties at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brussels on 17 June. She was previously State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Asirwatham was welcomed by the staff on arrival at the Embassy and accorded a warm reception. Addressing the staff, the Ambassador designate emphasised the importance of all staff members being focused on accomplishing the targets that the Mission has set for 2019. In this context, she noted that our utmost priority was further strengthening economic diplomacy with Belgium and the European Union with the objective of expanding trade and investment and promoting tourism. She further stated that Sri Lanka attaches importance to relations with the European Union, which is Sri Lanka’s largest export destination. 

Asirwatham called on the Chief of Protocol of Belgium and the Head of Protocol of the European Commission soon after arrival in Brussels. She also called on Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Islamic clergy to receive their blessings. Asirwatham also commenced meetings with representatives of the Sri Lankan community and Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Antwerp.