New Delhi, September 22, 2016 :
1988 batch IFS Sardar Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
About Taranjit Singh Sandhu
Taranjit Singh Sandhu, a 1988 batch IFS officer, who has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, hails from Amritsar in Punjab.
Sardar Taranjit Sandhu, the Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington, played a key role in the landmark visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014.
Born on 23 January 1963 in a family of educationists, he studied at The Lawrence School, Sanawar and graduated with History Honors from St. Stephens' College, Delhi. Amb. Sandhu did Masters in International Relations at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Ambassador Sandhu is married to Mrs. Reenat Sandhu, who is Minister (Commerce) at the Embassy of India, Washington DC. They have two children
In a distinguished career spanning over twenty five years after joining Indian Foreign Service in 1988, his various assignments have included working in the former Soviet Union (Russia) from 1990 to 1992 as Third Secretary (Political) / Second Secretary (Commercial). Following the breakup of Soviet Union, he was sent to open a new Embassy in Ukraine. He served as Head of Political and Administration Departments in Indian Embassy in Kiev from 1992 to 1994. On his return to India, Amb. Sandhu served as Officer on Special Duty (Press Relations), Ministry of External Affairs from 1994 to March 1997. He was responsible for liaison with foreign media in India.
He, earlier representing India in the island nation, positioned many out of the box ideas to engage Sri Lanka. He was the Head of the Political Department in the High Commission of India, Colombo from December 2000 to September 2004.He had a successful stint in Sri Lanka during the troubled times in the island nation. He now is leaving his mark in the US when he successfully mobilized the US lawmakers with his great connect in the Capital hill, during the last visit of the Prime Minister to Washington this year.
Prior to taking charge of his responsibilities in Washington D.C., Amb. Sandhu was Consul General of India in Frankfurt from September 2011 to July 2013. He has served in the Ministry of External Affairs from March 2009 to August 2011, as Joint Secretary (United Nations) and later as Joint Secretary (Administration) heading the Human Resource Department Division. Amb. Sandhu has earlier served in the Embassy of India, Washington, DC as First Secretary (Political) responsible for liaison with the United States Congress from 1997-2000.