Sept 14, Colombo: The new United States Ambassador Michele J. Sison presented her credentials as Ambassador to Sri Lanka today to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

Ambassador Sison is a career member of the United States Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor.

Sison was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 29, 2012 as the next U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Ambassador Sison previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon (2008-2010), U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (2004-2008), and Assistant Chief of Mission in Baghdad, Iraq (2011-2012).

Her earlier assignments include service as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs (2002-2004); Deputy Chief of Mission in Islamabad, Pakistan (1999-2002); Consul General/Principal Officer in Chennai, India (1996-1999); Consul General/Principal Officer in Douala, Cameroon; and tours in Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Togo, and Haiti. Sison also served as the State Department's Director of Career Development and Assignments (2010-2011).

She is the recipient of numerous State Department awards as well as the Presidential Meritorious Service Award and the U.S. Department of the Army's Outstanding Civilian Service Medal.

Ambassador Sison, who was born in Virginia, earned her B.A. in Political Science from Wellesley College. She is the mother of two daughters.

(Photo by Sudath Silva)