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| India's External Affairs minister S. M. Krishna and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao at the opening on Nov. 27, 2011 of the Indian Consulate in Jaffna. Photo Sunday Times. |
India’s Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has been appointed the next Ambassador to the United States, The Hindu newspaper reported.
Ms. Rao joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1973, assuming the office of the Foreign Secretary on August 1, 2009, becoming the second woman to head the Indian Foreign Secretary.
She has served in various key positions and had been India’s envoy to various countries, including China and Sri Lanka.
Ms. Rao was to retire in December last year at the age of 60 but was given an extension till July this year (the government has fixed a two-year term for the post of Foreign Secretary).
Last November she accompanied Indian External Affairs minister S. M. Krishna on his visit to Jaffna where he opened India’s first consulate in the northern Tamil peninsula.
“This is one consulate that I have pursued since the war ended,” she told The Hindu on the occasion.
“All [Indian] officials, including [Sri Lanka desk] Joint Secretary [Thiru Moorthy] worked very hard to realise this. I am very happy.”
See Mr. Krishna's speech at the Jaffna opening event here.
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