Ambassador C.A. Chaminda I. Colonne presents the Letter of Credence to the His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of the Kingdom of Cambodia

After warmly welcoming the Ambassador and spouse, the King Norodom Sihamoni extended sincere best wishes to the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and recalled long-standing friendly relations and co-operation for many centuries with Sri Lanka, based on Buddhist religious values. Ambassador Chaminda Colonne conveyed warm greetings from the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka to the King Norodom Sihamoni, and assured her fullest cooperation and support in enhancing and consolidating excellent longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation with the Kingdom.

While recalling the 70th Anniversary of establishment formal diplomatic relations on 28th May 2022, the King Norodom Sihamoni assured his fullest support and cooperation to enhance and encourage active engagement for furthering of political, economic and trade relations in the years ahead. Ambassador highlighted the importance of entering into bilateral Agreement on Air services, Investment Promotion and Protection and Avoidance of Double Taxation, establishment of direct air links facilitating bilateral trade, economic and trade ties and people to people contacts. Both also discussed on holding series of events celebrating 70th Anniversary of establishment of formal relations. The invitation extended by Ambassador Chaminda Colonne was warmly accepted by His Majesty King Preah Norodom Sihamoni to visit Sri Lanka.

Ambassador Chaminda Colonne concluded a Memorandum of understanding in the Field of Tourism and an Agreement on Exemption of the Visa Requirement for Holders of the Diplomatic, Service and Official Passports between Sri Lanka and Cambodia with the Minister of Tourism Thong Khun at the Ministry of Tourism and the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Koy Kuong at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, in Phnom Penh respectively. Further to holding bilateral meetings with Minister Thong Khun and Secretary of State Koy Kuong, the Ambassador also had fruitful discussions with Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona and Secretary of State Pich Rithi of the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia on promoting two countries relations and cooperation in the fields of political, Socio-cultural, trade, economic, investment, tourism etc.

Ambassador paid courtesy calls on Samdech Preah Aphiserei Maha Sangha Rajadhipati Bour Kry, the Great Supreme Patriarch of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Order and Samdech Preah Agga Maha Sangha Rajadhipati Tep Vong, the Great Supreme Patriarch of Mahanikay Sect of Cambodia. While highlighting the meeting as their very first such interaction with a Sri Lankan Ambassador, both Great Supreme Patiarchs conveyed their highest blessings and assured their commitment for consolidating bilateral relations. Ambassador also paid homage to Wat Langka Preh Kosomaram in Phnom Penh, Ven. Kassapa Thero at Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Centre in Khet Kandal, and met some of the Sri Lankan community live and work in Cambodia.

Ambassador Chaminda Colonne is a career diplomat, who joined the Sri Lankan Foreign Service in 1998 and she served as Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Berlin, and held positions at Sri Lanka missions in New Delhi and Moscow. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Colombo and served as an academic staff member of the University of Colombo prior to joining the Foreign Service. She is a past pupil of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, Sri Lanka.