Thank you, Chanaka

For a Sri Lankan married to a Filipino, living in the Philippines should be the easy part. You're married, made a home here; you've got children perhaps and you intend to stay.

Problem: immigration.

Sri Lankan Ambassador Chanaka Talpahewa spent part of his posting in Manila trying to make that particular headache a little less painful.

He helped negotiate a five-year temporary residence visa arrangement for Sri Lankans married to Philippine citizens. A longstanding concern in the community, according to the Sri Lankan Embassy.

Talpahewa has now finished his assignment in Manila. President Bongbong sent him off with decoration.

The Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu or Grand Cross, Silver Distinction. One of the Philippines' highest diplomatic honors, presented during the ambassador's farewell call at Malacañang.

Talpahewa had been in Manila since September 2023. Three years isn't much time in diplomacy. Governments change, ministers come and go, meetings get postponed sometimes for years.

The Philippines and Sri Lanka had gone five years without holding political consultations.

Those talks resumed during his tenure.

There were high-level visits, too. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya came to the Philippines, as did Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

Sri Lankan companies made their first manufacturing investments in the Philippines.

Haycarb, an activated carbon producer, and Jaindi Exports, a coconut processing company, established investments in Visayas and Mindanao.

Coconuts, incidentally, are something both countries know rather well.

Talpahewa also helped introduce two Sri Lankan brands to the Philippine market.

He found time for other things. An honorary consulate, an exhibition of sacred relics brought from Sri Lanka, even plans for joint postage stamps, a small gesture between two countries that have maintained diplomatic relations since 1961.

The stamps remain an initiative in progress.