The 24th Convocation of the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) was held on October 28 at the BMICH. The ceremony was held under the patronage of Chief Guest Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. The PM was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs M. U. M. Ali Sabry, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya and Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amb. Aruni Yasodha Wijewardane.

As the last Convocation was held in July 2019, prospective recipients belonged to two academic years 2019/2020 and 2020/2021. Approximately 160 prospective awardees of the Diploma in Diplomacy & World Affairs Courses, and 36 awardees of 6th and 7th Post Graduate Diploma Courses, were present at the event.

Best performers of the Diploma programmes were presented with awards, named after the founder of the BIDTI Prime Minister Sirimavo R. D. Bandaranaike, the founding Director General Deshamanya Dr. Vernon L.B. Mendis, and the second Director General Dr. Lorna Dewaraja. The recipients of the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Award for the XXth Diploma Course was jointly shared by Indian national Ms. Anju Bhatia and undergraduate of the University of Colombo Ms. Sithmi Nimashi Edirisinghe. The recipient of the award for the XXIst Diploma Course was Fiat Counsel at the Attorney General’s Department Mr. M. Shezan. Likewise, the recipient of the award of XXIInd Diploma Course was Assistant Lecturer at the University of Kelaniya Ms. Lihini Devindi Boteju, and the recipient of the award for the XXIIIrd Diploma Course was Ms. Methmuthu Navoda Abeywickramam currently working with the UN.

The ceremony was conducted amidst the presence of a distinguished audience, comprising Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Sri Lanka, representatives of International Organisations, former Foreign Secretaries and Ambassadors as well as officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the former Attorney General, former Secretary of Parliament and visiting lecturers of the BIDTI.

The Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) was founded in September 1995 as the training arm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Institute has been set up under the guidance of late Prime Minister Sirimavo R. D. Bandaranaike with the objective of organising training courses in Diplomacy and International Relations to enhance the skills of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Service and to produce a competent diplomatic service that is well versed in diplomatic skills and the practice of foreign relations. Although it was envisaged as a training institute for diplomats to acquire skills required for the profession, its scope has also been widened to promote knowledge of diplomacy and world affairs to the nation at large. The BIDTI is a member of the International Forum of Diplomatic Training (IFDT) which is jointly chaired by the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at the Georgetown University.