Press release
New Ambassadors to Iceland, Angola and Sri Lanka present Credentials - 16 February 2022
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
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From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
His Excellency, Mr. Sturla Sigurjónsson, Ambassador of Iceland, His Excellency, General Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda, Ambassador of the Republic of Angola and Her Excellency, Mrs. Saroja Sirisena, Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka presented their Letters of Credence to President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin today.
H.E. Mr. Sturla Sigurjónsson, Ambassador of Iceland, was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Elin Jónsdóttir.
H.E. General Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda, Ambassador of the Republic of Angola, was accompanied by Mrs. Maria Odete da Gama Tavares França, Counsellor.
H.E. Mrs. Saroja Sirisena, Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, was accompanied by her husband, Dr. Sudath Talpahewa and Ms. Thimuthu Dissanayake, Second Secretary.
Ms. Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics; and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with special responsibility for Postal Policy and Eircodes represented the government at the ceremony.
The following were also present: Ms. Orla O’Hanrahan, Secretary General to the President; Mr. Joe Hackett, Secretary General, Department of Foreign Affairs; Col Stephen Howard, Comdt Deirdre Newell and Capt. Pól Ó Domhnaill, Aides-de-Camp to the President; Mr. Gerald Angley, Mr. Joe Brennan and Ms. Cathy Barnicle, Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Ambassadors were accompanied to and from Áras an Uachtaráin by an Escort of Honour consisting of a motorcycle detachment drawn from the 2 Brigade Cavalry Squadron, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, under the command of Lieutenant Maurice Harnett.
A Guard of Honour was provided at Áras an Uachtaráin by the 1st Infantry Battalion, Renmore Barracks, Galway, under the command of Lieutenant Aidan Howley.
Captain John Carpenter conducted the Army No.1 Band, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin.
Lieutenant Jack O’Brien, from the 1st Infantry Battalion, Renmore Barracks, Galway, was the flag officer.