DIPLOMATIC CORPS
INDIAN OCEAN NEIGHBOURS
High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara looks to strengthen Sri Lanka-Australia ties
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Q: Given that you have served as a diplomat in various capacities, what unique insights do you bring to your role as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia?
A: Having served in the Sri Lanka Overseas Service for over three and a half decades, the knowledge and experience gained over the years contributes to the role expected of me as the head of mission in Australia.
Living and working in foreign countries in the diplomatic field, one needs to adapt and take into consideration different perspectives in relation to each country and analyse our current requirements, so that one can identify opportunities to enhance links between Sri Lanka and the host country.
Q: How do you perceive the state of bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Australia – and what steps do you envision to strengthen these ties?
A: Sri Lanka and Australia have maintained bilateral relations for over 76 years. It is important to note that Australia sent a commissioner to Sri Lanka in 1947 even before we gained independence.
At the political level, there have been regular interactions throughout this period.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited Perth in February this year at the invitation of the Australian government to deliver the keynote speech at the Indian Ocean Conference.
In July last year, we had a Foreign Office Bilateral Consultations, Second Strategic Maritime Dialogue and Third Joint Trade and Investments Framework Agreement (TIFA) meeting. Our links in the defence field are also significant – especially the cooperation between the two navies, which has been described as a ‘gold standard.’
As regards economic diplomacy, and trade and investment links, there’s a focus on enhancing linkages with much emphasis being placed on the tourism industry. Australia has been identified as a target source country by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).
All these formal agreements pave the way to pursuing close links between our two countries.
Q: What lessons do you think could be applied to enhance relations with Australia, which is an important player in the Asia-Pacific region?
A: When we look at the geopolitical dynamics, the Asia-Pacific region is receiving greater focus globally. Against this backdrop, Australia is an important country and being a member of the Quad – together with the US, Japan and India – the developments in the region are of interest to Sri Lanka.
Australia has referred to Sri Lanka as an ‘Indian Ocean neighbour.’ In this context, the evolving regional developments in the maritime domain and role played by Australia are of interest.
These developments and perspectives, as well as our role as Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), are factored in our foreign policy formulation.
Q: Could you elaborate on the importance of youth engagement in diplomatic efforts and international relations?
A: In a fast changing world, youth could be engaged and play a greater role to keep pace with the developments in the IT and AI sectors. The knowledge, talents and expertise of the youth could be harnessed to maintain and develop communication links and social media engagement, not only in the diplomatic field but also in a multitude of other areas.
Q: In view of your background in political science and international relations, how do you leverage your academic foundation to enhance understanding and collaboration between Sri Lanka and Australia? And how do you perceive the cultural and historical connections between the two countries?
A: Given the foundation established at the political level, Sri Lanka could collaborate further in the fields of academia, education, skilled migration and tourism, in addition to exploring new opportunities in the trade and investment sectors, as well as the cultural field.
In our efforts to ensure the visibility and awareness of the positive aspects of Sri Lanka, the large Sri Lankan expatriate community and their contributions are most important to the cultural and image building exercise.
Q: And in the context of tourism, are there any new initiatives in the pipeline to entice more Australians to visit Sri Lanka – and if so, which unique attractions of the island are being promoted?
A: In keeping with the global campaign launched by the SLTPB, the high commission and Consul General in Melbourne held networking sessions in July 2023. These sessions were held in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne.
More extensive awareness campaigns and networking sessions were held in March this year in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, which brought together tour and travel operators from Sri Lanka and Australia with the benefits being felt already.
While the promotional events focussed on catering to the diverse interests of tourists, adventure, culture, food and sports are areas of special interest to tourists from Australia.
Australia has referred to Sri Lanka as an ‘Indian Ocean neighbour’
FACT FILE
FAMILY
Husband
Sister
Two brothers
SCHOOLING
Holy Family Convent
HIGHER EDUCATION
Bachelor of Commerce (Special)
Postgraduate Diploma in International Studies – Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS)
Diploma in International Relations – Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE
Australia (temporary)
CITY OF RESIDENCE
Canberra (temporary)
CV IN A NUTSHELL
Chitranganee Wagiswara is a former Foreign Secretary and High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India. Presently, she is a member of the board of management of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI).