Ambassador-designate to Republic of Korea assumes duties

The Ambassador-designate of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Korea, Savitri Indrachapa Panabokke, assumed duties at the Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Seoul, on 13 June.

After a religious ceremony following the assumption of duties, Ambassador-designate Panabokke addressed the staff of the Embassy and highlighted the importance of the Sri Lanka-Republic of Korea bilateral relations and to work towards enhancing its multiple dimensions, including the political, economic, socio-cultural, religious and labour fields. She further emphasised the importance of adopting a people-centric and people-friendly approach for providing consular services and labour welfare services to the Sri Lankan migrant worker community in the Republic of Korea. 

A member of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, Ambassador-designate Panabokke counts over 22 years in the Sri Lanka Foreign Service and has held many positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo and at Sri Lanka Missions abroad.

Her service overseas includes the Sri Lanka Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vienna, the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore and the Embassy of Sri Lanka and Permanent Mission to the European Union in Brussels. She has also served in various capacities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo, including the East Asia and Pacific Division, Economic Affairs Division, Public Communications Division and the Foreign Secretary’s Bureau. She held the post of Director General of Regional Cooperation immediately prior to her assignment to Seoul. 

Ambassador-designate Panabokke has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Colombo and a Master’s Degree in International Studies from the National University of Singapore.