Ambassador Lenagala presents credentials to Austrian President

By Sujeeva Nivunhella

Last week in Vienna, Ambassador M.R.K Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s representative to the UNO and other international organizations in Vienna, officially became the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka, following the presenting of Letters of Credence to President Alexander Van der Bellen at the Hofburg Palace.

The ceremonial event marked the initiation of Lenagala’s diplomatic role in Austria. His formal accreditation was accompanied by a courtesy call on the Federal President, during which he extended warm regards and good wishes from Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to President Van der Bellen.

A professional diplomat with an over 25-years career, Lenagala joined Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1998 topping the recruitment examination. He has held senior appointments at the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York and as Deputy High Commissioner in both London and New Delhi.

In postings in Colombo, he has handled Political Affairs West and the UN & Human Rights Divisions at the foreign office twice serving as Director General of the latter. He has also been Personal Assistant to four consecutive Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

A former student of Ananda College Colombo, he holds Bachelor of Science and Master of International Relations degrees from the University of Colombo and is an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court.