RIYADH : Sri Lankan ambassador Ameer Ajwad said : “ It is my privilege to pay tribute to my dear friend, brother, and counterpart, His Excellency Khalid Hamoud Alkahtani, Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, as he concludes his highly successful assignment in Colombo.
It has been my distinct privilege to have worked closely with Ambassador Alkahtani—first during my stint at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo, and now as his ambassadorial counterpart in Riyadh. I deeply cherish our warm friendship and the close professional relationship we have developed over the years. I have personally witnessed his personal affection for Sri Lanka and his sincere desire to see the country continue to enjoy peace, harmony, and prosperity.
I have greatly valued his readiness to extend support and cooperation whenever needed, as well as his unwavering commitment to working together, as we are the representatives of the two nations in both capitals, to further strengthen the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I remain especially grateful for his encouragement and steadfast support in commemorating the historic 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries in 2025 in a flying manner. 🇱🇰🤝🇸🇦
Indeed, Ambassador Alkahtani’s exemplary public diplomacy and his dedication to humanitarian initiatives—particularly the “Noor Saudi” programme, sponsored by KSrelief to combat preventable blindness among underprivileged communities in Sri Lanka—have left a lasting impression on the people of Sri Lanka. His steadfast commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence, tolerance, and social harmony among all communities, reflecting the visionary leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz AlSaud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will always be remembered with deep appreciation and gratitude.
As Ambassador Alkahtani embarks upon a new chapter in his distinguished diplomatic career, I am confident that the wealth of experience and wisdom he gained during his service in Sri Lanka will continue to guide him throughout his diplomatic career in the years ahead, In Sha’ Allah.
May Allah (SWT) bless His Excellency and his lovely family with good health, abundant happiness, and continued success in all their future endeavours.”
