New Ambassador for Philippines

Sarath MALALASEKERA

COLOMBO: President’s Counsel Aloy Ratnayake, a former Chairman of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited has been appointed as the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Philippines.

He presents his credentials to the head of the State of Philippines Gloria Arrayo in Manila in September this year.

Aloy, to his close friends was educated at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo and entered the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya Campus, with the first batch of Arts students in 1952.

After graduation he entered the Law College and passed out as an Advocate, being the seventh member of his family to grace the legal profession at the Kurunegala Bar.

President’s Counsel Aloy Ratnayake, one of the leading criminal lawyers in the country, had appeared in several important criminal cases.

After several years of successful practice as a criminal lawyer, he was made a President’s Counsel. His ambition had been to join the Foreign Service as a career diplomat, but this goal was not achieved until he was chosen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be our man in the Philippines.

President’s Counsel Aloy Ratnayake is fully equipped for this post as, he has been in close relationship with the Filipino residents in Sri Lanka, especially at the Church run by Franciscan Friars in Talangama.

He is expected to continue our close ties with the Philippines, when he presents his credentials in Manila in September 2007. All his friends and relations wish him ‘Bon Voyage’ and all success in his new post as Ambassador at a felicitation ceremony held recently at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.

Sri Lanka Philippines Friendship Association President Joe Aloysius presided at the felicitation ceremony held at the Galle Face Hotel. Several Philippines nationals residing in Sri Lanka were also present at the ceremony.

The new Ambassador to Philippines Aloy Ratnayake speaking at the ceremony thanked all his friends and relations who had assisted him and arranged a felicitation ceremony to welcome him on his new post.