New Zealand names first resident High Commissioner to Sri Lanka

Saturday, 26 September 2020 01:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Says two countries have lot in common including love of cricket, rugby and traditions of parliamentary democracy
Says NZ looks forward to working more closely with SL to promote a peaceful, prosperous Indo-Pacific region

Michael Appleton as New Zealand’s first resident High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, the country’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.

The announcement was made over the Office website of the New Zealand Government yesterday.

“New Zealand is opening a post in Colombo in 2021 because we are ready to take our relationship with Sri Lanka to a new level. In our current COVID world, it is more important than ever to have New Zealand diplomats in the field pursuing our national interest,” Peters said in making the announcement.

He also said that Sri Lanka and New Zealand have a lot in common “as island nations with large neighbours, a love of cricket and rugby, and traditions of Parliamentary democracy”.

Peters said New Zealand looks forward to working more closely with Sri Lanka to promote a peaceful, prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

Appleton, a career diplomat since 2005, is currently the Senior Foreign Affairs Adviser in the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He has had previous postings in India, the US and Timor-Leste.