During the discussion that followed, Ambassador Sugeeshwara Gunaratna conveyed the greetings of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and briefed the AUC Chairperson on the Sri Lankan Government’s intention to strengthen and deepen linkages with the African continent. Reaffirming the historical bonds of solidarity Sri Lanka has had with the African continent, the Ambassador conveyed that it would now be mutually beneficial to expand on this strength of goodwill into other areas, especially trade and investment. It was noted that operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) would provide enhanced opportunities in this regard. The discussion also focused on other possible areas of mutual collaboration.

Ambassador Sugeeshwara Gunaratna is a Sri Lanka Foreign Service officer, having served as the Deputy High Commissioner in London and in Sri Lanka Missions in New Delhi and Geneva. He is a graduate of the University of Colombo and has postgraduate qualifications from Centennial College, Canada and the University of Colombo.