Sri Lanka establishes resident mission in Ethiopia

Nov 28, 2016 (LBO) - Sri Lanka has established a resident mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to broaden ties with the nation located in the Horn of Africa. "With a view to broadening political, trade and economic relations with Ethiopia and also forge closer relations with the African Union (AU) that is headquartered in Addis Ababa, the Government of Sri Lanka recently established a resident mission in Ethiopia," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador-designate to Ethiopia, is Sumith Dassanayake, who has assumed office and awaits the presentation of his official credentials to President Mulatu Teshome. Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations with Ethiopia in 1972 -- with the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Ambassadors to Kenya were concurrently accredited to Ethiopia, while Ethiopia’s Ambassadors to India were accredited to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka and Ethiopia are both members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and G-77, and cooperate with each other in areas of mutual benefit including in multilateral fora such as the UN, the statement added. The newly established mission in Addis Ababa will also be accredited to the African Union (AU), consisting of 54 countries in Africa. Sri Lanka obtained accreditation status in the African Union (AU) in April 2014 as a non-African State and accordingly, the newly appointed Ambassador in Addis Ababa will represent the government at the African Union as an observer in his capacity as the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the African Union. The Embassy is located at No. 875, Kebele 02, Bole Sub City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Telephone: +251-11-6154-681, +251-11-8334-175; Facsimile: +251-11-6154-785; Email: slemb.ethiopia@gmail.com)