News
HC Bogollagama presents credentials to King Charles III
By Sujeeva Nivunhella reporting from London
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom, Rohitha Bogollagama, presented his Letter of Credence to King Charles III, at a ceremonial event held at Buckingham Palace. The event marked a significant diplomatic occasion, featuring High Commissioner Bogollagama and his spouse, Deepthi Bogollagama, arriving in traditional horse carriages escorted by the Royal Mews.
Bogollagama conveyed warm greetings from President Ranil Wickremesinghe to the King, extending best wishes for the monarch’s health and well-being. During the audience, Bogollagama highlighted the longstanding bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom, which have flourished for over seven decades. The discussions also included Sri Lanka’s active role within the Commonwealth and the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa this October. Additionally, on behalf of President Wickremesinghe, Bogollagama invited King Charles III to visit Sri Lanka.
As a gesture of goodwill, the High Commissioner presented the King with a special selection of James Taylor Premium Ceylon Tea, symbolising its historic connection to the UK. The ceremony was attended by Sir Philip Barton, Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Following the presentation, the High Commissioner and his entourage returned to the High Commission in horse carriages, concluding the journey with the ceremonial feeding of the horses with carrots. Upon their arrival, a Pirith chanting ceremony was held to invoke blessings on the High Commissioner.
In the evening, a Vin D’Honneur was hosted at the Sri Lanka House, attended by UK dignitaries, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of Parliament, FCDO representatives, journalists, and corporate leaders, celebrating the presentation of credentials. Addressing the gathering, High Commissioner Bogollagama expressed gratitude for the support extended by the UK government since his tenure began and looked forward to strengthening the bilateral relationship further.
High Commissioner Bogollagama has an extensive political career, having served as a Member of Parliament from 2000 to 2010 and holding several key ministerial positions, including Minister of Industries, Minister of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as the Governor of the Eastern Province from 2017 to 2019.
Notably, High Commissioner Rohitha Bogollagama is the first Sri Lankan envoy to present credentials to King Charles III.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in a high-level dialogue titled “Tourism as Soft Power and Diplomatic Capital” held at the Euronews Hub, Piz Buin Davos, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on January 20.
The session explored how tourism functions as a strategic instrument of diplomacy by strengthening international trust, cultural exchange, and regional cooperation through mobility and people-to-people engagement. The Prime Minister shared the panel with Mr. Kuban Omiraliyev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States and Mr. Meshari Alnahar – CEO Aseer Investment Company, Saudi Arabia.
Addressing global trends, the Prime Minister emphasized that Sri Lanka is an example of hope, recovery and resilience in a world of conflict demonstrating how tourism can play a critical role in a changing global environment particularly amid climate shocks, geopolitical instability, and uneven economic recovery. She noted that tourism is not only an economic sector but also a vital diplomatic bridge that supports livelihoods, builds relationships and connects people.
Drawing on Sri Lanka’s recent experience, she highlighted the country’s strong tourism recovery despite multiple crises, including the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Transparent crisis management and strategic engagement with international partners helped sustain visitor confidence, resulting in record tourist arrivals even in challenging circumstances.
The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of green and climate friendly tourism infrastructure and underlined that Sri Lanka welcomes long term investment in tourism. She pointed out that tourism supports millions of jobs worldwide and that inclusive policies are essential to ensure fair opportunities, particularly for women and vulnerable communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 20 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized two (02) Indian fishing boats and apprehended seven (07) Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan, Jaffna.
The seized boats and Indian fishermen was to be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in a series of high-level bilateral meetings on January 20 on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
The Prime Minister attended a productive bilateral meeting with Mr. Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships. During the discussion, both sides focused on strengthening Sri Lanka–EU cooperation and advancing mutual interests.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya also met with Mr. Masato Kanda, President and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), at the WEF Congress Centre. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing engagement and future collaboration between Sri Lanka and the ADB.
In addition, the Prime Minister held discussions with Mr. Hassan El Houry, Chairman of Menzies Aviation, where opportunities for collaboration in aviation services and connectivity were explored.
The Prime Minister also participated in a high-level dialogue at the Global Tourism Forum held at the Euronews Hub, Piz Buin, Davos, as part of the World Economic Forum engagements.
Dr. Anil Jayantha, Minister of Labour, and the Deputy Minister of Finance were also present at these meetings.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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