Ambassador and Permanent Representative-designate Dayani Mendis assumes duties in Vienna

The Ambassador and Permanent Representative-designate of Sri Lanka to the Republic of  Austria and to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna, Dayani  Mendis, assumed duties at the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Vienna on  22 June 2026.  

Following the assumption of duties, the Ambassador-designate addressed the staff, outlining  the priorities of the Government of Sri Lanka. She underscored the importance of  strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Austria, as well as with the accredited  countries of Bosnia, Chechia, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia, while promoting  trade, investment, and tourism. She also emphasized the need for professionalism,  commitment, and teamwork in advancing Sri Lanka’s interests and delivering tangible  benefits to the people of Sri Lanka.  

Having joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in January 2000, Ambassador-designate Dayani  Mendis has over 26 years of bilateral and multilateral experience. She has previously served  at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C., the Sri Lanka High Commission in  Canberra, the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Vienna, and the Permanent  Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva, where she held the post of Deputy Permanent Representative.  

During her career, Ambassador-designate Dayani Mendis has served in various capacities at  the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. Prior to assuming duties  in Vienna, she served as Acting Additional Secretary of the United Nations and Human  Rights Division and thereafter in the SAARC Division.  

She holds a Master of Arts in International Politics from American University, an Executive  Master’s in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights from the Geneva Academy,  and a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in English from the University of Colombo.