The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to France, Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, presented his Letters of Credence to the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, at the Élysée Palace on Monday, 5 October 2026.

Following the presentation of Credentials, Ambassador Gunaratna had a brief meeting with President Macron, during which he conveyed the warm greetings and best wishes of the President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He highlighted the long-standing bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and France and expressed Sri Lanka’s interest in further expanding cooperation in the political, economic, trade, maritime and cultural spheres, as well as in multilateral fora.

President Macron extended his warm greetings to the President, Government and people of Sri Lanka, reaffirming France’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation across multiple sectors.

Both sides acknowledged that President Macron’s visit to Sri Lanka in July 2023 served as an important catalyst in further strengthening bilateral relations.

Earlier, on 2 July 2026, upon assuming duties in Paris as Ambassador-designate and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Gunaratna presented the open copy of his Letter of Credence to the Deputy Director of State Protocol and Diplomatic Events of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mathieu Carmona.

A career diplomat with over 25 years of service, Ambassador Gunaratna previously served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, and Deputy High Commissioner to the UK. He has also served at the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Colombo, postgraduate qualifications from Centennial College, Canada, and is an alumnus of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia.

08 October 2026

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Paris