Ambassador Saroja Sirisena

Ambassador Saroja Sirisena

Senior Diplomat | Executive Leader | Strategic Advisor

  • Former High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom (2020–2023)

Ambassador Saroja Sirisena is a distinguished career diplomat whose 26-year tenure is defined by strategic acumen, transformative leadership, and a steadfast commitment to advancing Sri Lanka’s interests on the global stage.

As Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from March 2020 to November 2023, she spearheaded initiatives to strengthen bilateral and multilateral engagement, earning recognition as Diplomat of the Year from Asia and Oceania by The Diplomat magazine in 2023. Her tenure was marked by navigating complex geopolitical landscapes and elevating Sri Lanka’s international profile during a period of unprecedented global change.

Since entering public service in 1997 as Executive Assistant to the Minister of Commerce, Ambassador Sirisena has held multiple senior positions across the Government of Sri Lanka. She served as Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, with concurrent accreditation to several Central European countries. In these roles, she advanced Sri Lanka’s positions on critical issues ranging from disarmament to sustainable development.

A recognised authority in public diplomacy, she excelled as Director General of Public Diplomacy & Spokesperson, where she led strategic communications, strengthened relationships with international and domestic media, and safeguarded the nation’s narrative during periods of heightened scrutiny. As Director General of Economic Affairs, she conceptualised and implemented the national Economic Diplomacy Programme, driving trade, investment, and tourism promotion.

Ambassador Sirisena’s overseas service also included her role as Consul General in Mumbai (2014–2018), fostering partnerships with Indian states; Minister at Sri Lanka’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva; Deputy Chief of Mission in Brussels to the EU; and First Secretary at the Permanent Mission to UNESCO in Paris. Domestically, she contributed to post-conflict reconstruction as Director General for External Relations in the Ministry of Economic Development.

Educated at Devi Balika Vidyalaya in Colombo and the University of Melbourne, where she earned a BA in International Relations, she further honed her expertise at the École Nationale d’Administration (ENA) in France. Fluent in French, she operates with ease across cultures and geopolitical contexts.

Beyond her professional achievements, she embraces a well-rounded personal life enriched by yoga, fitness, music, and culinary arts. Married to Dr. Sudath Talpahewa, she is the proud mother of two sons. Her career stands as both an inspiration to emerging diplomats and a testament to principled, impactful service to her nation and the global community.