Italy's highest civilian State award on Lankan envoy

ITALY: The Italian President has conferred the Stella Della Solidarira (Star of Solidarity and Cooperation) award on Sri Lanka's Ambassador in Italy E. Rodney M. Perera. This is the highest civilian State award conferred by the Italian Government.

Perera received the award from Italy's Deputy Foreign Minister Geovanni Veranetti at the Italian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

A press release from the Sri Lanka Embassy in Rome, said the Italian Government has made this award in recognition of the immense service rendered by the Ambassador towards promoting bilateral relations between Italy and Sri Lanka.

Perera was instrumental in promoting the first official visit of a Sri Lanka President to Italy in 25 years and a visit by a Sri Lankan Foreign Minister to Italy for the first time in the last 15 years. A cultural, educational, scientific and technology exchange agreement between Italy and Sri Lanka was also signed during Perera's tenure as Ambassador.