Diploma in diplomacy: BIDTI holds 24th Convocation

The 24th Convocation of the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) was held on October 28 at the BMICH under the patronage of the Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

He was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister M.U.M. Ali Sabry, Foreign Affairs State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya and Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary Aruni Yasodha Wijewardane.

Delivering the Keynote address, the Prime Minister said Sri Lanka’s greatest asset and strength has been “a solid civilisation of over 25 centuries and a well cultured human resource that was highly skilled and was able to manage the East and West throughout history and create wonders in the world”.

He said it was necessary to equip the country’s representatives abroad with the skills to face challenges that have arisen nationally and internationally.

In his address the Foreign Affairs Minister gave a brief history of the BIDTI, congratulated all awardees and thanked the BIDTI for its efforts.

The convocation ceremony consisted of awardees from the academic years 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 who received their awards amidst the presence of a distinguished audience comprising of ambassadors and high commissioners accredited to Sri Lanka, representatives of international organisations, former foreign secretaries and ambassadors and Foreign Affairs Ministry officials, the former Attorney General, the former Parliament Secretary and visiting lecturers of the BIDTI.

The Prime Minister presented awards to the recipients of the Post Graduate Diploma and to the recipients of the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Prize, the Vernon Mendis Memorial Prize and the Lorna Dewaraja Memorial Prize. The ceremony continued with awarding certificates by the Foreign Affairs Minister, the Foreign Affairs State Minister and the Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary.

More than 150 participants of the Diploma in Diplomacy and World Affairs and 36 participants of the Post Graduate Diploma in Diplomacy & World Affairs received their awards and certificates at the convocation.

The BIDTI wishes to congratulate all the awardees.