Singapore has appointed two new non-resident High Commissioners to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced on July 21. Former Member of Parliament Sitoh Yih Pin has been named High Commissioner to the Maldives, while media veteran Patrick Daniel will serve as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. Both received their letters of credence from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on the same day.

Sitoh, 62, succeeds Soo Kok Leng, who has held the position since 2020. Diplomatic ties between Singapore and the Maldives were established in February 1975, and Singapore currently manages its relations with the Maldives from within its own territory, as there is no physical embassy in the island nation. Sitoh represented Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency as an MP for three terms until 2025. He has been a member of the Board of Management of the People’s Association since 2021 and serves as a non-executive director at China Taiping Insurance Singapore. Sitoh holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from the National University of Singapore, earned in 1987, and began his professional career as an auditor with KPMG.

Patrick Daniel, 71, will take over the High Commissioner post in Sri Lanka, based at the consulate in Colombo. He follows S. Chandra Das, who served in the role from 2015 to 2025. Daniel currently holds positions as non-executive chairman of Alphahvest Holdings and president of the Singapore Press Club, along with non-executive directorships at SBS Transit and SPH Media Trust, the publisher of The Straits Times. His journalism career at Singapore Press Holdings spans more than three decades, including roles as senior writer at The Straits Times beginning in 1986, editor of The Business Times from 1992 to 2002, and editor-in-chief of SPH from 2007 to 2016. Daniel earned a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Science and Economics from University College, Oxford, in 1976, followed by a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Both Sitoh and Daniel will serve as non-resident envoys, a role that does not require residency in their respective host countries. Instead, they will conduct regular representational visits to oversee and strengthen diplomatic relations.