On 20 August 2026, Ambassador C. A. Chaminda I. Colonne, the first woman Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Republic of Suriname, with residence in Brasilia, Brazil, presented her Letters of Credence to President of the Republic of Suriname Jennifer Geerlings-Simons at the Presidential Palace, Independence Square, Paramaribo. Ambassador Chaminda Colonne conveyed the warm greetings and best wishes of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka to President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons.
The ceremony included a Guard of Honor for the Ambassador. Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Cooperation, Melvin Waldie Joy Bouva, also attended the ceremony.
Welcoming Ambassador Chaminda Colonne, President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons assured her fullest cooperation and support in further strengthening the longstanding friendly relations and cooperation between Suriname and Sri Lanka. President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons expressed her Government’s interest in sharing Sri Lanka’s knowledge and best practices in economic recovery and sustainable energy, particularly in further developing Suriname’s energy sector. She also appreciated Sri Lanka’s leading role as a founding member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Ambassador Chaminda Colonne congratulated President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons on her election as the first woman President of Suriname and recalled Sri Lanka’s historic achievement of producing the world’s first woman Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, in 1960. She also highlighted the significance of being the first woman Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Suriname.
Both sides recalled the warm bilateral relations enjoyed between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2012. They also discussed Suriname’s historical links with South Asia, cooperation within the Non-Aligned Movement and the G-77, and the importance of high-level exchanges. Existing agreements and mechanisms, including the MoU on the Exemption of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports, the MoU on Political Consultations between the two Foreign Ministries, the Sri Lanka-Suriname Parliamentary Friendship Group and cooperation in the context of South-South Cooperation, were also discussed.
The discussions focused on further expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, education, culture, Ayurvedic medicine and tourism. In view of Suriname’s growing oil and gas sector, Ambassador Chaminda Colonne conveyed Sri Lanka’s interest in exploring joint venture opportunities, while highlighting Sri Lanka’s expertise in ICT, manufacturing and IT services. Both sides also agreed to explore improved maritime connectivity through port-to-port links.
The two sides discussed increasing Sri Lankan exports to Suriname, including cinnamon, tea, activated carbon, apparel, rubber products, tyres and coconut-based products, as well as Suriname’s participation in Sri Lanka Expo 2027, scheduled to be held from 14 to 17 January 2027.
On 19 August 2026, Ambassador Chaminda Colonne presented copies of her Letters of Credence to Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Cooperation, Melvin Waldie Joy Bouva, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Cooperation. Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Mariam Mac Intosh, and Amberien Pierkhan of the Asia Department also participated in the discussions. The Ambassador also paid a courtesy call on Chief of Diplomatic Protocol, Ambassador Audrey Christopher, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During her visit to Suriname, Ambassador Chaminda Colonne paid courtesy calls on Minister of Education, Science and Culture Dirk M. R. Currie and Speaker of the National Assembly of Suriname Michaёl A. Adhin. She also met President Anil Pandarath of the Chamber of Commerce and Factories (KKF), Executive Director Nijanthrie Kuldip Singh of the Suriname Investment and Trade Agency (SITA), and Chairman Egon von Foidl of the Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHATA).
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Brasilia
26 August 2026
