Secretary Locsin Hosts Farewell Lunch for Sri Lankan Ambassador

PHOTO: Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. (second from left) hosted a farewell lunch for outgoing Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Philippines Aruni Ranaraja (second from right, seated across Secretary Locsin) who is concluding her team in the Philippines after more than three years. 

During her tenure, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena undertook a State Visit to the Philippines in January 2019, which saw the signing of five memoranda of understanding in the fields of agriculture, defense, higher education and tourism.  It was the first visit by a Sri Lankan President serving both as Head of State and Government, and only the second by a Sri Lankan leader since 1976.

The Secretary was joined by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo, Assistant Secretary for Asia-Pacific Affairs Meynardo LB. Montealegre, Chief Coordinator Millicent Cruz-Paredes, Chief of Protocol Orontes V. Castro, Senior Special Assistant Anne Jalandoon-Louis.  Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Asia-Pacific Affairs (DFA-ASPAC) Executive Director Josel F. Ignacio and DFA-ASPAC Acting Director Rona Beth G. Goce.  The Ambassador was accompanied by Minister K.G.T.P Dissanayake. (DFA-OSCR, Photo by Nilo Palaya)