New FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives assumes duties

Dr D.B.T Wijeratne – Assistant FAO Representative (Programmes); Vimlendra Sharan - FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives with Mahindananda Aluthgamage - Minister of Agriculture and Prof. Udith Jayasinghe Mudalige - Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture.

 

The newly appointed Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for Sri Lanka and Maldives Vimlendra Sharan presented his credentials to Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Speaking following the presentation of credentials Sharan stated, “I am honoured to have been given this opportunity to work for the people of Sri Lanka, especially the smallholder farmers in rural areas. I look forward to deepening our partnership with Government Agencies and other stakeholders working in the food and agriculture sector.”

Sharan also called on the Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage. The FAO Representative reiterated the Organization’s commitment to support the people of Sri Lanka through the transformation to more sustainable, efficient, inclusive and resilient agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

Prior to his appointment as the FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Sharan served as the Director of the FAO Liaison Office for North America in Washington DC, United States of America.

Sharan brings with him nearly three decades of national and international government leadership experience focusing on rural development, agriculture and food security issues. Sharan was the Permanent Representative of India to the Rome based UN Agencies; FAO, World Food Programme (WFP) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) from 2013 to 2016.

 

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