UNIS/BIO/738
24 February 2005
New Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka Presents Credentials
VIENNA, 24 February (UN Information Service) -- The new Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Aruni Yasodha Wijewardane, presented her credentials today to Antonio Maria Costa, Director-General, UNOV.
Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Wijewardane was serving as Director, South Asia and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka (2004-05).
Ms. Wijewardane has served in many capacities in the course of her career, including as: Director, Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka (2003-04); Director, South Asia and SAARC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka (2001-02); Deputy High Commissioner, Sri Lanka High Commission, Malaysia (2000-01); Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Sri Lanka, Philippines (1998-2000); Acting Director, United Nations and Human Rights Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka (1993-98); Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland (1989-93) and Assistant Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka (1988-89).
She has also served concurrently as Director at the Sri Lanka Institute of International Relations established to serve as the policy research wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2003-05).
Ms. Wijewardane completed her Bachelors Degree at the University of Western Australia and her Masters Degree at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. She is married and has two children.
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