Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner-designate to Kenya Dhammika Fernando assumes duties

Friday, 6 November 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

High Commissioner-designate of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Kenya, Dhammika Fernando

High Commissioner-designate of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Kenya, Dhammika Fernando, assumed duties at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Nairobi on 2 November 2026.

Addressing the Mission’s staff, High Commissioner-designate Fernando outlined his vision for advancing Sri Lanka’s interests through purposeful diplomacy, practical economic engagement and responsive public service. He identified three principal priorities: representing Sri Lanka with dignity and delivering results; placing economic diplomacy at the forefront of the Mission’s work; and building a professional, accountable and united team.

Highlighting opportunities for closer cooperation between Sri Lanka and Kenya, he emphasised the importance of expanding trade, promoting tourism, facilitating investment in both directions and connecting businesses with potential partners. He expressed his commitment to making the Mission an active facilitator of opportunities that would generate tangible benefits for both countries.

Fernando also underscored the importance of safeguarding the welfare of Sri Lankans and providing efficient, courteous and accessible consular services. He noted the Mission’s wider responsibilities across its countries of concurrent accreditation and Sri Lanka’s engagement with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

Acknowledging the staff’s contribution to sustaining the Mission’s work, he stressed that professionalism, integrity, accountability, teamwork and loyalty to Sri Lanka would guide its collective efforts. He pledged a consultative approach to leadership, grounded in mutual respect and a shared commitment to national service.

High Commissioner-designate Fernando brings extensive experience in manufacturing, foreign investment, human resource management and industry leadership. An engineering graduate of the University of Moratuwa, he subsequently pursued postgraduate and master’s qualifications in Human Resource Management through the Open University of Sri Lanka.

He has served as President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka, President of the Asia Pacific Federation of Human Resource Management, Board Member of the World Federation of People Management Associations and Chairman of the Free Trade Zone Manufacturers’ Association of Sri Lanka. He is a recipient of CIPM Sri Lanka’s Lifetime Achievement Gold Award and a past pupil of Maris Stella College, Negombo.