BRUSSELS, September 2019: Ambassador Grace Asirwatham presented Credentials to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk as Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the European Union on 11 September 2019 at the Europa Building of the European Council in Brussels.
During the “Exchange of Views” that followed, Ambassador Asirwatham and President Tusk acknowledged the significant growth in relations between Sri Lanka and the EU in recent years including the restoration of the EU GSP+ facility. It was noted that the EU was Sri Lanka’s largest export destination and that total trade now exceeded Euro 5 billion annually.
The EU pledged continued support for a steadfast growth in economic relations, whilst mentioning the importance of continued dialogue on matters of mutual interest relating to respect for human rights, civil liberties and the rule of law. It was acknowledged that the European Union and Sri Lanka share common values and that they should continue to work closely to further enhance the multifaceted relationship.
Ambassador Asirwatham is a senior career diplomat of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, who has previously served as Ambassador of Sri Lanka to The Netherlands and Nepal and Consul General in Bonn. As an international civil servant, she has also held the post of Deputy Director General of the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) based in The Hague. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Jaffna and a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Colombo.
