Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation Prof. M.D. Lamawansa presented his letters of credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Kamilov on 21 of December 2020. The official ceremony took place at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Moscow and gathered 12 Ambassadors representing different countries.

In his speech, the Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan congratulated the Ambassadors on their appointment and wished them success in fulfilling their diplomatic duties. It was also noted that in recent years the Republic of Uzbekistan has achieved significant results in the development of friendly, mutually beneficial relations with a wide range of foreign partners.
Addressing Sri Lanka, the Foreign Minister mentioned the friendly relationships historically established between the two countries and provision of facilities for Sri Lankans for higher studies in Uzbekistan in the past. He emphasized the mutual cooperation in multilateral organizations such as United Nations and highlighted the importance of strengthening practical interaction in the spheres of trade, economy, and the implementation of joint projects in various fields. The high-level meeting with the participation of diplomats and key specialists from Central and South Asia on exploring the ways of collaboration for prosperity, stability and safety of our countries and people is planned for next year.
In the interview the Ambassador gave to the Uzbekistan media, he thanked the Foreign Minister Kamilov for his kind words and the Ambassador Asadov for organizing an elegant event. Further, he added that more opportunities exist for promotion of the best tea in the world-Ceylon tea, and Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. Building up cultural and religious relationships too are potential areas for development. Ambassador has also expressed his desire to visit the Republic of Uzbekistan at the earliest. FM Kamilov invited all Ambassadors to spend some time outside Tashkent in order to learn more about the country during their visits.