Foreign relations of Sri Lanka refers to the diplomatic and commercial relations between Sri Lanka and other countries. Sri Lanka has stressed its principle of "friendship towards all, enmity towards none" in its diplomacy.
The goal of Sri Lanka's foreign policy is to maintain a strong, independent, powerful and unitary Sri Lanka; The Sri Lankan foreign policy establishment maintains that in achieving this goal.
Sri Lanka's foreign policy has been founded in the national interest. In a period of rapid and continuing change, foreign policy capable of responding optimally to new challenges and opportunities. It has to be an integral part of the larger effort of building the nation's capabilities through economic development, strengthening social fabric and well-being of the people and protecting Sri Lanka's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Sri Lanka's foreign policy is a forward-looking engagement with the rest of the world, based on a rigorous, realistic and contemporary assessment of the bilateral, regional and global geo-political and economic milieu.
The U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka is located in Colombo, as are U.S. Agency for International Development offices and Public Affairs offices. IBB offices are located near Chilaw, 75 km north of Colombo.
Relations are historically tied together even beyond the sub-continent's colonisation by the British. Sri Lanka's first King (to be mentioned in the ancient Pali chronicles) was alleged to have ancestors from the Vanga Kingdom which occupied an area now known as Bangladesh. Bangladesh's Buddhist minority gifted Sri Lanka with a few strands of hair said to have belonged to Buddha as a sign of goodwill. It is a worshipped object on Poya Day, a Buddhist public holiday in Sri Lanka.
In August 2008, both heads of states discussed the implementation of new air links in hope of increasing trade, investment and stronger cultural links. Sri Lanka's current investments have been in Bangladesh's garment and banking sector and expect to diversify into different areas. Bangladesh also hosts a number of Sri Lankan medical students and cricket as a form of friendly communications between their people. There has been discussion to increase bilateral relations, cooperation between the two navies and sending Sri Lankan Naval personal to study in Bangladesh.
China and Sri Lanka are now engaged in healthy relations, as China provided valuable equipment and materials to the Sri Lankan Army, to help defeat the LTTE. In the summer of 2012, Chinese officials visited Sri Lankan military officials. Currently, Sri Lanka seems intent on maintaining a good relationship with China, both militarily and politically.
Bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and India have been generally friendly, but were affected by the Sri Lankan civil war and by the failure of Indian intervention during the Sri Lankan civil war. India is Sri Lanka's only neighbour, separated by the Palk Strait; both nations occupy a strategic position in South Asia and have sought to build a common security umbrella in the Indian Ocean.[39]
India-Sri Lanka relations have undergone a qualitative and quantitative transformation in the recent past. Political relations are close, trade and investments have increased dramatically, infrastructural linkages are constantly being augmented, defence collaboration has increased and there is a general, broad-based improvement across all sectors of bilateral cooperation. India was the first country to respond to Sri Lanka's request for assistance after the tsunami in December 2004. In July 2006, India evacuated 430 Sri Lankan nationals from Lebanon, first to Cyprus by Indian Navy ships and then to Delhi & Colombo by special Air India flights.
There exists a broad consensus within the Sri Lankan polity on the primacy of India in Sri Lanka's external relations matrix. Both the major political parties in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the United Nationalist Party have contributed to the rapid development of bilateral relations in the last ten years. Sri Lanka has supported India's candidature to the permanent membership of the UN Security Council.[40]
Iran and Sri Lanka have had official diplomatic relations since 1961.[41]
Diplomatic relations between Iran and Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) began in 1961 via the Ceylonese embassy in Islamabad, which was the closest Ceylon had to a presence on Iranian soil until the opening of the Tehran embassy office in 1990. Tehran set up its Colombo office in 1975.
Iraq was the largest buyer of Sri Lankan tea during the reign of Saddam Hussein. Ties between Sri Lanka and Iraq were disrupted during the Iraq War. However, in 2018 Iraq re-emerged as the largest buyer of Sri Lankan Tea.[46]
Sri Lanka has a close relationship with Israel, and its military is a major user of Israeli weapons systems that include the IAI Kfir Fighter Jet, the Super Dvora Mk III class Patrol Vessel, and the Gabriel missile. In May 2011, the Israeli Minister of Agriculture visited Sri Lanka with an agro-business delegation to promote cooperation between the two countries.[47]
During World War II, an air raid was carried out by Japan to bomb the city of Colombo in Sri Lanka. Later on, Japan and Sri Lanka became friendly and established a relation in 1952. Japan has an embassy in Colombo.[48] Sri Lanka has an embassy in Tokyo.[49] Sri Lankan President JR Jayawardene played a major role in re-admitting Japan to the world community at the San Francisco Conference
Official and economic relations between the neighboring Indian Ocean countries of the Maldives and Sri Lanka, have been positive since the Maldives became independent in 1965. The Maldives first established a mission in Sri Lanka in July 1965, and today has a High Commission in Colombo.
Nepal and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations on 1 July 1957. Nepal opened an honorary consulate general in Colombo in 1975 and established its embassy in 1995. Sri Lanka has a residential embassy in Kathmandu since 1993. Around sixty thousand Sri Lankans visit Lumbini annually to pay homage to Gautam Buddha's birthplace Lumbini, so Government of Sri Lanka has built a rest house and constructed a Buddhist monastery complex in Lumbini.
Palestine has very close ties to Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka has made monetary donations to Palestine on various occasions.Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena also assured that Sri Lanka is committed to stand by the struggle for independence of the Palestinian people.[53] There is an embassy for the state of Palestine in Colombo.[54]
Diplomatic relations between both nations were established on 14 November 1977. The Republic of Korea's Investment in Sri Lanka (cumulative total at the end of June 2014) totals $731million.[55] The Republic of Korea has an embassy in Colombo. Sri Lanka has an embassy in Seoul.
The relationship is low-keyed, but there are no outstanding issues. Hungary contributed to relief after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and has since stepped up aid to Sri Lanka.[70]
The Romanian Ambassador in New Delhi is concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka, while the Sri Lanka Mission in Warsaw, Poland is concurrently accredited to Romania.[71] The President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga characterized relations between the two countries in 2003 as "close and friendly".[72]
Diplomatic relation between Sri Lanka and Romania were established on 15 September 1957. Initially maintained at Legation level, the relations were later raised to Ambassadorial level in 1967. In 1963 Romania opened a Commercial Office in Colombo, this was upgraded to as embassy in 1976 with a chargé d'affaires. The Romanian Mission in Colombo was closed in 1995 but reopened as a Commercial Office in 1998.
In 1978, the Sri Lankan minister of Foreign Affairs visited Romania.[71]
Romania provided 32,000 euros worth of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devastated the country in December 2004.[73]
The ambassador designate of Sri Lanka in Bucharest was Clarence Felician Chinniah[73] until his death in January 2009.[74][75]
In December 2009, Valerica Epure presented her credentials to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to become Ambassador-Designate of Romania to Sri Lanka.[76][77][78][79]
In December 2009 with the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka 46 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees were sent to Romania to be processed for resettlement from Indonesia on their way to Australia.[80]
Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Romania was valued at US$8.87 million in 2007, up from US$7.9 million in 2006.[81] Efforts have been made to expand trade in Ceylon tea to Romania.[82] In 2009, Chairman and CEO of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board Anil Koswatte has singled out Romania as country for which exports could be increased.[83]
During the war between the Sri Lanka Armed Forces (Government of Sri Lanka) and Tamil Tigers, Russia helped Sri Lanka by providing education on battle field tactics to Sri Lanka Army.
Russia has an embassy in Colombo. Sri Lanka has an embassy in Moscow.
In the 1980s political relations between Switzerland and Sri Lanka intensified with many Sri Lankan Tamils fleeing from the ethnic conflict to find asylum in Switzerland.
New Zealand and Sri Lanka have a strong relationship since the 1800s. New Zealand has longstanding Commonwealth, migrant and sporting ties with Sri Lanka.
New Zealand has a High Commission in Colombo.
Sri Lanka is accredited to New Zealand from its high commission in Canberra, Australia.
^"Todos los países" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 16 September 2023.
^Yitzhak Oron (1961). Middle East Record Volume 2, 1961 Volume 2. Israel Oriental Society, The Reuven Shiloah Research Center. p. 294.
^1963 Ferguson's Ceylon Directory (105 ed.). The Ceylon Observer Press. 1963. p. 167.
^"(3758) ACUERDO POR CANJE DE NOTAS SOBRE ESTABLECIMIENTO DE RELACIONES DIPLOMÁTICAS ENTRE LA REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA Y CEILÁN - ESTE ESTADO CAMBIÓ SU DENOMINACIÓN OFICIAL POR SRI LANKA EN 1972" (in Spanish). 5 January 1962.
^"Sri Lanka ve buen momento para relación con la región" (in Spanish). 16 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
^Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts - Issues 126-130 - Page 5. United States. Central Intelligence Agency 1965.
^Africa Research Bulletin. Blackwell. 1973. p. 2834.
^"Saudi-Sri Lankan ties on upswing". 4 February 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
^(PDF). p. 195. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
^Asian Almanac. Vol. 15. V.T. Sambandan. 1977. p. 8511.
^Translations on South and East Asia. Vol. 765–771. Joint Publications Research Service. 27 April 1978. p. 60.
^(PDF) (in Russian). p. 270. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
^South and East Asia Report No. 1087. United States Joint Publications Research Service. 13 January 1982. p. 61. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
^Sri Lanka Foreign Affairs: A Review of Activities Carried Out During the Period 1994-1998 with Highlights of Sri Lanka's Foreign Relations in the Post-independence Period. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka. 1988. p. 156.
^Summary of World Broadcasts: Far East. Vol. 3. BBC. 1984. pp. A-9.
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^"Order of Precedence of Heads Diplomatic Missions Accredited to Sri Lanka and Dates of Presentation of Credentials". Ferguson's Sri Lanka Directory 1992-93 125th Edition. p. 117. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
^"Order of Precedence of Heads of Diplomatic Missions Accredited to Sri Lanka and Dates of Presentation of Credentials". Ferguson's SRI LANKA DIRECTORY 1992-93 125th Edition. p. 118. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
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^"New Sri Lanka envoy to Mauritius presents credentials". 20 July 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
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^"Inicio | Home". embamex.sre.gob.mx. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
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^Brief on India-Sri Lanka Relations, Ministry of External Affairs (BSM Division: Sri Lanka)
^Sri Lanka – Iran Bilateral Relations 11 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Embassy of Sri Lanka in Iran
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Further readingedit
Copper, J. F. "China and Sri-Lanka: Old Friendship Renewed." Asia Quarterly 2 (1975): 101-110.
Höglund, Kristine, and Isak Svensson. "Mediating between tigers and lions: Norwegian peace diplomacy in Sri Lanka's civil war." Contemporary South Asia 17.2 (2009): 175-191.
Peebles, Patrick. The History of Sri Lanka (Greenwood, 2005)
Suryanarayan, V, "Sri Lanka's policy towards China: Legacy of the past and prospects for the future." China Report 30.2 (1994): 203-21
External linksedit
Fallacy and the Reality of IMF Standby Arrangement for Sri Lanka by The Sunday Times
January 01, 1970
foreign, relations, lanka, refers, diplomatic, commercial, relations, between, lanka, other, countries, lanka, stressed, principle, friendship, towards, enmity, towards, none, diplomacy, lanka, since, 1950s, followed, aligned, foreign, policy, does, take, side. Foreign relations of Sri Lanka refers to the diplomatic and commercial relations between Sri Lanka and other countries Sri Lanka has stressed its principle of friendship towards all enmity towards none in its diplomacy Sri Lanka since the 1950s has followed a non aligned foreign policy and does not take sides with major powers 1 Since the end of the Cold War in Asia the country has pursued better relations with all major powers and seeks to strengthen its diplomatic economic and military ties with China India Pakistan Russia the United States Japan South Korea and the European Union Sri Lanka has also forged close ties with the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN African Union and Arab League Sri Lanka participates in multilateral diplomacy particularly at the United Nations where it seeks to promote sovereignty independence and development in the developing world Sri Lanka was a founding member of the Non Aligned Movement NAM It also is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC World Bank International Monetary Fund IMF Asian Development Bank ADB Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as dialogue partner and Colombo Plan Sri Lanka continues its active participation in the NAM while also stressing the importance it places on regionalism by playing a strong role in SAARC Sri Lanka Ambassador to the European Union Grace Asirwatham Contents 1 History 2 Military 3 Diplomatic relations 4 Bilateral relations 4 1 Africa 4 2 Americas 4 3 Asia 4 4 Europe 4 5 Oceania 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksHistory editThe goal of Sri Lanka s foreign policy is to maintain a strong independent powerful and unitary Sri Lanka The Sri Lankan foreign policy establishment maintains that in achieving this goal Sri Lanka s foreign policy has been founded in the national interest In a period of rapid and continuing change foreign policy capable of responding optimally to new challenges and opportunities It has to be an integral part of the larger effort of building the nation s capabilities through economic development strengthening social fabric and well being of the people and protecting Sri Lanka s sovereignty and territorial integrity Sri Lanka s foreign policy is a forward looking engagement with the rest of the world based on a rigorous realistic and contemporary assessment of the bilateral regional and global geo political and economic milieu Military editThe Sri Lanka Armed Forces is the overall unified military of Sri Lanka encompassing the Sri Lanka Army the Sri Lanka Navy the Sri Lanka Air Force which comes under preview of the Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka MOD They receive military support from mainly China Russia India Pakistan and Israel The United States also gives limited support Diplomatic relations editList of countries which Sri Lanka maintains diplomatic relations with date is not known for Liberia nbsp Country Date 2 1 nbsp United Kingdom 22 October 1946 2 nbsp Australia 29 April 1947 3 nbsp Turkey 4 February 1948 3 4 nbsp France 27 October 1948 5 nbsp United States 29 October 1948 6 nbsp India 1948 7 nbsp Pakistan 1948 8 nbsp Myanmar 7 June 1949 9 nbsp Sweden 18 November 1949 10 nbsp Italy 18 April 1950 11 nbsp Norway 13 October 1950 12 nbsp Netherlands 23 November 1951 13 nbsp Japan April 1952 14 nbsp Cambodia 28 May 1952 15 nbsp Indonesia 6 August 1952 16 nbsp Denmark 5 January 1953 17 nbsp Portugal January 1953 18 nbsp Belgium 27 July 1953 19 nbsp Canada 20 August 1953 20 nbsp Germany 3 December 1953 21 nbsp Finland 24 September 1954 22 nbsp Spain 12 April 1955 23 nbsp Austria 28 October 1955 4 24 nbsp Thailand 20 November 1955 25 nbsp New Zealand 14 December 1955 26 nbsp Switzerland 7 November 1956 5 27 nbsp China 7 February 1957 28 nbsp Russia 19 February 1957 29 nbsp Poland 18 April 1957 30 nbsp Nepal 1 July 1957 31 nbsp Romania 15 September 1957 32 nbsp Czech Republic September 1957 33 nbsp Serbia 14 October 1957 6 34 nbsp Egypt 24 October 1957 35 nbsp Malaysia October 1957 36 nbsp Israel 1 January 1958 37 nbsp Greece 19 March 1958 7 38 nbsp Afghanistan 1 November 1958 39 nbsp Hungary 15 February 1959 8 40 nbsp Cuba 29 July 1959 41 nbsp Brazil 22 January 1960 9 42 nbsp Mexico 19 April 1960 43 nbsp Senegal 1960 44 nbsp Philippines 11 January 1961 45 nbsp Iraq 22 February 1961 10 46 nbsp Ghana 6 March 1961 11 47 nbsp Argentina 5 January 1962 12 48 nbsp Mongolia 1 February 1962 49 nbsp Bulgaria 10 June 1962 50 nbsp Algeria 1962 51 nbsp Chile 1962 52 nbsp Iran 1962 53 nbsp Bolivia 1963 13 54 nbsp Cyprus 1963 55 nbsp Jordan 6 July 1965 14 56 nbsp Laos 20 July 1965 57 nbsp Maldives 26 July 1965 58 nbsp Sudan 1967 59 nbsp Syria 10 May 1969 60 nbsp Nigeria January 1970 61 nbsp North Korea 15 July 1970 62 nbsp Singapore 20 July 1970 63 nbsp Vietnam 21 July 1970 64 nbsp Kenya 1970 65 nbsp Kuwait 19 February 1971 66 nbsp Bangladesh 4 March 1972 67 nbsp Luxembourg 27 July 1972 68 nbsp Fiji September 1972 69 nbsp Uganda 30 November 1972 70 nbsp Ethiopia 1972 71 nbsp Guinea Bissau 1972 72 nbsp Libya 1972 73 nbsp Trinidad and Tobago 1972 74 nbsp Zambia 16 April 1973 15 75 nbsp Tanzania July 1973 76 nbsp Guyana 14 July 1974 77 nbsp Saudi Arabia July 1974 16 78 nbsp Peru 17 March 1975 nbsp Holy See 15 February 1976 79 nbsp Panama 8 March 1976 17 80 nbsp Qatar 20 July 1976 81 nbsp Costa Rica 11 June 1977 18 82 nbsp South Korea 14 November 1977 83 nbsp Democratic Republic of Congo 13 May 1978 19 84 nbsp United Arab Emirates 19 July 1979 85 nbsp Yemen September 1979 20 86 nbsp Albania 4 March 1980 87 nbsp Oman 17 February 1981 88 nbsp Tunisia 7 December 1981 21 89 nbsp Bhutan 13 May 1982 90 nbsp Papua New Guinea 17 November 1982 91 nbsp Zimbabwe 1983 22 92 nbsp Vanuatu 28 September 1983 93 nbsp Tonga 10 January 1984 23 94 nbsp Brunei 3 April 1984 95 nbsp Venezuela 9 April 1987 96 nbsp Colombia 30 September 1988 24 nbsp State of Palestine 6 February 1989 25 97 nbsp Somalia 20 April 1990 26 98 nbsp Morocco 27 November 1990 27 99 nbsp Guinea 6 August 1991 28 100 nbsp Armenia 12 February 1992 101 nbsp Ukraine 12 February 1992 102 nbsp Bahrain 27 June 1992 103 nbsp Kazakhstan 29 June 1992 29 104 nbsp Azerbaijan 4 August 1992 105 nbsp Moldova 27 November 1992 106 nbsp Slovakia 15 February 1993 30 107 nbsp Tajikistan 20 April 1994 108 nbsp South Africa 12 September 1994 109 nbsp Estonia 31 January 1996 110 nbsp Kyrgyzstan 29 January 1996 111 nbsp Ireland February 1996 31 112 nbsp Turkmenistan 18 April 1996 113 nbsp Slovenia 25 July 1996 114 nbsp Lithuania 20 August 1996 115 nbsp Latvia 19 September 1996 116 nbsp Croatia 10 February 1997 117 nbsp Lebanon 7 May 1997 118 nbsp North Macedonia 10 April 1998 119 nbsp Georgia June 1998 120 nbsp Seychelles 3 October 1998 121 nbsp Jamaica 29 September 1998 122 nbsp Iceland 23 December 1998 123 nbsp Mozambique 12 March 1999 124 nbsp Namibia 8 April 1999 125 nbsp Uruguay 21 July 1999 126 nbsp Uzbekistan 11 October 1999 127 nbsp Malta 27 January 2000 128 nbsp Eswatini 27 June 2000 129 nbsp Lesotho 14 July 2000 130 nbsp Belarus 20 November 2000 131 nbsp Bosnia and Herzegovina 22 June 2001 132 nbsp Madagascar 27 July 2001 133 nbsp Angola 3 February 2004 134 nbsp Bahamas 19 July 2005 135 nbsp Eritrea 15 November 2007 136 nbsp Botswana 27 October 2008 137 nbsp Paraguay 3 April 2009 138 nbsp Mauritius 20 July 2010 32 139 nbsp Dominican Republic 3 February 2011 140 nbsp Montenegro 4 April 2011 141 nbsp Rwanda 20 April 2011 142 nbsp Ecuador 9 May 2011 24 143 nbsp Malawi 9 June 2011 144 nbsp Mali 19 January 2012 145 nbsp Republic of the Congo 1 February 2012 146 nbsp San Marino 7 June 2012 147 nbsp Burkina Faso 15 November 2012 148 nbsp Suriname 16 November 2012 149 nbsp El Salvador 10 December 2012 150 nbsp Haiti 14 December 2012 151 nbsp Grenada 19 December 2012 152 nbsp Mauritania 21 December 2012 153 nbsp Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15 January 2013 154 nbsp Guatemala 26 February 2013 155 nbsp Honduras 12 March 2013 156 nbsp Solomon Islands 3 July 2013 157 nbsp Benin 12 August 2013 33 158 nbsp South Sudan 25 September 2013 159 nbsp Sierra Leone 16 November 2013 160 nbsp Ivory Coast 5 March 2014 161 nbsp Samoa 15 August 2014 162 nbsp Togo 27 September 2015 163 nbsp Djibouti 16 November 2015 164 nbsp Monaco 26 July 2016 165 nbsp Andorra 30 November 2016 34 166 nbsp Dominica 17 April 2018 167 nbsp Burundi 11 March 2019 168 nbsp Gambia 10 May 2019 169 nbsp Nicaragua 10 May 2019 170 nbsp Saint Lucia 25 June 2019 171 nbsp Barbados 28 June 2019 172 nbsp Liechtenstein 5 March 2021 24 173 nbsp Gabon 19 March 2021 24 174 nbsp Saint Kitts and Nevis 22 March 2021 24 175 nbsp East Timor 4 May 2022 24 176 nbsp Liberia UnknownBilateral relations editAfrica edit Country Formal Relations Began Notes nbsp Kenya 1970 See Kenya Sri Lanka relations nbsp South Africa 16 September 1994 See South Africa Sri Lanka relations Americas edit Country Formal Relations Began Notes nbsp Cuba 29 July 1959 See Cuba Sri Lanka relations nbsp Mexico 19 April 1960 See Mexico Sri Lanka relations Mexico is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi India and maintains an honorary consulate in Colombo 35 Sri Lanka is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington D C United States and maintains an honorary consulate in Mexico City 36 nbsp United States 23 October 1948 See Sri Lanka United States relations nbsp President Jayewardene of Sri Lanka presents a baby elephant to President Reagan and the American people in 1984 The U S Embassy in Sri Lanka is located in Colombo as are U S Agency for International Development offices and Public Affairs offices IBB offices are located near Chilaw 75 km north of Colombo Sri Lankan Embassy is located in Washington D C Asia edit Country Formal Relations Began Notes nbsp Armenia 12 February 1992 See Foreign relations of Armenia Armenia is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi India 37 Sri Lanka is accredited to Armenia from its embassy in Moscow Russia 37 nbsp Bangladesh 1972 See Bangladesh Sri Lanka relations Relations are historically tied together even beyond the sub continent s colonisation by the British Sri Lanka s first King to be mentioned in the ancient Pali chronicles was alleged to have ancestors from the Vanga Kingdom which occupied an area now known as Bangladesh Bangladesh s Buddhist minority gifted Sri Lanka with a few strands of hair said to have belonged to Buddha as a sign of goodwill It is a worshipped object on Poya Day a Buddhist public holiday in Sri Lanka In August 2008 both heads of states discussed the implementation of new air links in hope of increasing trade investment and stronger cultural links Sri Lanka s current investments have been in Bangladesh s garment and banking sector and expect to diversify into different areas Bangladesh also hosts a number of Sri Lankan medical students and cricket as a form of friendly communications between their people There has been discussion to increase bilateral relations cooperation between the two navies and sending Sri Lankan Naval personal to study in Bangladesh nbsp Bhutan 13 May 1987 Diplomatic relations began in 1987 The ambassador of the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan The ambassador of the Bhutanese Embassy in Dhaka is accredited to Sri Lanka 38 Bhutan has an honorary consulate in Colombo nbsp China 7 February 1957 See China Sri Lanka relations In 1411 the Ming dynasty fought a war against the Kingdom of Kotte This conflict was known as the Ming Kotte War China and Sri Lanka are now engaged in healthy relations as China provided valuable equipment and materials to the Sri Lankan Army to help defeat the LTTE In the summer of 2012 Chinese officials visited Sri Lankan military officials Currently Sri Lanka seems intent on maintaining a good relationship with China both militarily and politically nbsp India 4 February 1948 See India Sri Lanka relations Bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and India have been generally friendly but were affected by the Sri Lankan civil war and by the failure of Indian intervention during the Sri Lankan civil war India is Sri Lanka s only neighbour separated by the Palk Strait both nations occupy a strategic position in South Asia and have sought to build a common security umbrella in the Indian Ocean 39 India Sri Lanka relations have undergone a qualitative and quantitative transformation in the recent past Political relations are close trade and investments have increased dramatically infrastructural linkages are constantly being augmented defence collaboration has increased and there is a general broad based improvement across all sectors of bilateral cooperation India was the first country to respond to Sri Lanka s request for assistance after the tsunami in December 2004 In July 2006 India evacuated 430 Sri Lankan nationals from Lebanon first to Cyprus by Indian Navy ships and then to Delhi amp Colombo by special Air India flights There exists a broad consensus within the Sri Lankan polity on the primacy of India in Sri Lanka s external relations matrix Both the major political parties in Sri Lanka the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the United Nationalist Party have contributed to the rapid development of bilateral relations in the last ten years Sri Lanka has supported India s candidature to the permanent membership of the UN Security Council 40 nbsp Indonesia 6 August 1952 See Indonesia Sri Lanka relations Indonesia has an embassy in Colombo Sri Lanka has an embassy in Jakarta nbsp Iran 1961 See Iran Sri Lanka relations Iran and Sri Lanka have had official diplomatic relations since 1961 41 Diplomatic relations between Iran and Sri Lanka then known as Ceylon began in 1961 via the Ceylonese embassy in Islamabad which was the closest Ceylon had to a presence on Iranian soil until the opening of the Tehran embassy office in 1990 Tehran set up its Colombo office in 1975 After Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became President of Iran Sri Lanka was the first country he visited on his inaugural Asian tour 42 Mahinda Rajapaksa also made ties with Iran a priority after he ascended to office 43 nbsp Iraq 22 February 1961 See Sri Lanka Iraq relations Sri Lanka has an embassy in Baghdad 44 Iraq has an embassy in Colombo 45 Iraq was the largest buyer of Sri Lankan tea during the reign of Saddam Hussein Ties between Sri Lanka and Iraq were disrupted during the Iraq War However in 2018 Iraq re emerged as the largest buyer of Sri Lankan Tea 46 nbsp Israel 1 June 1956 See Israel Sri Lanka relations Sri Lanka has a close relationship with Israel and its military is a major user of Israeli weapons systems that include the IAI Kfir Fighter Jet the Super Dvora Mk III class Patrol Vessel and the Gabriel missile In May 2011 the Israeli Minister of Agriculture visited Sri Lanka with an agro business delegation to promote cooperation between the two countries 47 nbsp Japan 28 April 1952 See Japan Sri Lanka relations During World War II an air raid was carried out by Japan to bomb the city of Colombo in Sri Lanka Later on Japan and Sri Lanka became friendly and established a relation in 1952 Japan has an embassy in Colombo 48 Sri Lanka has an embassy in Tokyo 49 Sri Lankan President JR Jayawardene played a major role in re admitting Japan to the world community at the San Francisco Conference nbsp Malaysia October 1957 See Malaysia Sri Lanka relations Malaysia has a High Commission in Colombo 50 and Sri Lanka has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur 51 nbsp Maldives 26 July 1965 See Maldives Sri Lanka relations Official and economic relations between the neighboring Indian Ocean countries of the Maldives and Sri Lanka have been positive since the Maldives became independent in 1965 The Maldives first established a mission in Sri Lanka in July 1965 and today has a High Commission in Colombo nbsp Nepal 1 July 1957 Foreign relations of Nepal Nepal and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations on 1 July 1957 Nepal opened an honorary consulate general in Colombo in 1975 and established its embassy in 1995 Sri Lanka has a residential embassy in Kathmandu since 1993 Around sixty thousand Sri Lankans visit Lumbini annually to pay homage to Gautam Buddha s birthplace Lumbini so Government of Sri Lanka has built a rest house and constructed a Buddhist monastery complex in Lumbini Following the April 2015 Nepal earthquake Sri Lanka was one of the first three countries to send medical and search and rescue teams to the country The Air Force sent flights of C 130 Hercules aircraft and SriLankan Airlines sent Airbus A330 aircraft carrying Army emergency teams 52 nbsp Pakistan May 1948 See Pakistan Sri Lanka relations nbsp Palestine April 1982 See Palestine Sri Lanka relations Palestine has very close ties to Sri Lanka Sri Lanka has made monetary donations to Palestine on various occasions Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena also assured that Sri Lanka is committed to stand by the struggle for independence of the Palestinian people 53 There is an embassy for the state of Palestine in Colombo 54 nbsp Philippines 17 April 1958 See Philippines Sri Lanka relations nbsp South Korea 14 November 1977 see South Korea Sri Lanka relationsDiplomatic relations between both nations were established on 14 November 1977 The Republic of Korea s Investment in Sri Lanka cumulative total at the end of June 2014 totals 731million 55 The Republic of Korea has an embassy in Colombo Sri Lanka has an embassy in Seoul nbsp Turkey September 1958 See Sri Lanka Turkey relations Since 2012 Sri Lanka has an embassy in Ankara 56 Since 2013 Turkey has an embassy in Colombo 56 Europe edit Country Formal Relations Began Notes nbsp Croatia 14 February 1997 Foreign relations of Croatia Sri Lanka recognized Croatia on 27 May 1992 57 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 February 1997 57 Both countries have agreed on bilateral treaties in various fields 58 nbsp Cyprus March 1981 Cyprus is accredited to Sri Lanka by its High Commission in New Delhi India 59 and an honorary consulate in Colombo 59 Sri Lanka is accredited to Cyprus from its embassy in Rome Italy 60 and an honorary consulate in Larnaca 59 Both countries have agreed on bilateral treaties in various fields 61 Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations nbsp Czech Republic 28 December 1957 and 15 February 1993 Historical relations between the Czech Republic and Sri Lanka have been good with foundations to build upon in strengthening bilateral cooperation There have been state visits by both sides 62 The Czech Republic has a consulate in Colombo 63 In 2000 Czech Republic provided RM 70 multiple rocket launchers for Sri Lanka Army 64 nbsp Denmark 5 January 1953 See Denmark Sri Lanka relations nbsp Estonia 31 January 1996 See Estonia Sri Lanka relations Sri Lanka recognised Estonia on 10 October 1991 Sri Lanka has an embassy in Stockholm which covers Estonia Estonia has an honorary consulate in Sri Lanka Economic relations between Sri Lanka and Estonia are at moderate level nbsp Germany 9 December 1953 See Germany Sri Lanka relations nbsp Greece 1957 Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1957 65 Greece is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi India 66 Sri Lanka is accredited to Greece from its embassy in Rome Italy 65 66 nbsp Holy See 6 September 1975 See Holy See Sri Lanka relations Formal relations Began in 1978 The Holy See has a nunciature in Colombo Sri Lanka has an embassy in Rome nbsp Hungary 15 February 1959 See Hungary Sri Lanka relations Sri Lanka has an embassy in Vienna Austria that is accredited to Hungary 67 and has a consul in Budapest 68 Hungary maintains a consulate in Colombo 69 The relationship is low keyed but there are no outstanding issues Hungary contributed to relief after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and has since stepped up aid to Sri Lanka 70 nbsp North Macedonia 10 April 1998 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 April 1998 nbsp Romania 15 September 1957 See Romania Sri Lanka relations The Romanian Ambassador in New Delhi is concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka while the Sri Lanka Mission in Warsaw Poland is concurrently accredited to Romania 71 The President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga characterized relations between the two countries in 2003 as close and friendly 72 Diplomatic relation between Sri Lanka and Romania were established on 15 September 1957 Initially maintained at Legation level the relations were later raised to Ambassadorial level in 1967 In 1963 Romania opened a Commercial Office in Colombo this was upgraded to as embassy in 1976 with a charge d affaires The Romanian Mission in Colombo was closed in 1995 but reopened as a Commercial Office in 1998 In 1978 the Sri Lankan minister of Foreign Affairs visited Romania 71 Romania provided 32 000 euros worth of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devastated the country in December 2004 73 The ambassador designate of Sri Lanka in Bucharest was Clarence Felician Chinniah 73 until his death in January 2009 74 75 In December 2009 Valerica Epure presented her credentials to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to become Ambassador Designate of Romania to Sri Lanka 76 77 78 79 In December 2009 with the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka 46 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees were sent to Romania to be processed for resettlement from Indonesia on their way to Australia 80 Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Romania was valued at US 8 87 million in 2007 up from US 7 9 million in 2006 81 Efforts have been made to expand trade in Ceylon tea to Romania 82 In 2009 Chairman and CEO of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board Anil Koswatte has singled out Romania as country for which exports could be increased 83 nbsp Russia 19 February 1957 See Russia Sri Lanka relations nbsp President Mahinda Rajapaksa with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at St Petersburg Economic Forum in June 2011 During the war between the Sri Lanka Armed Forces Government of Sri Lanka and Tamil Tigers Russia helped Sri Lanka by providing education on battle field tactics to Sri Lanka Army Russia has an embassy in Colombo Sri Lanka has an embassy in Moscow nbsp Serbia 14 October 1957 Both countries have established diplomatic relations in 1956 84 A number of bilateral agreements in various fields have been concluded and are in force between both countries 85 nbsp Spain 10 July 1955 See Spain Sri Lanka relations nbsp Switzerland 23 January 1956 See Sri Lanka Switzerland relations In the 1980s political relations between Switzerland and Sri Lanka intensified with many Sri Lankan Tamils fleeing from the ethnic conflict to find asylum in Switzerland nbsp United Kingdom 4 February 1948 See Sri Lanka United Kingdom relations Sri Lanka has a High Commission in London United Kingdom has a High Commission in Colombo Oceania edit Country Formal Relations Began Notes nbsp Australia 4 February 1948 See Australia Sri Lanka relations Australia has a High Commission in Colombo Sri Lanka has a High Commission in Canberra and five consulates general in Adelaide Brisbane Melbourne Perth and Sydney nbsp New Zealand 14 December 1955 See Foreign relations of New Zealand New Zealand and Sri Lanka have a strong relationship since the 1800s New Zealand has longstanding Commonwealth migrant and sporting ties with Sri Lanka New Zealand has a High Commission in Colombo Sri Lanka is accredited to New Zealand from its high commission in Canberra Australia New Zealand visits to Sri Lanka Prime Minister John Key and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Murray McCully visited Sri Lanka for the 23rd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2013 Hon Murray McCully Minister of Foreign Affairs June August 2013 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Delegation attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference October 1998 Agriculture Lands amp Forestry Minister Jayaratne May 1996 86 See also editList of diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka List of diplomatic missions of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka and the Non Aligned MovementReferences edit Patrick Peebles The History of Sri Lanka Greenwood 2005 p 118 Diplomatic relations Retrieved 10 July 2022 Sri Lanka and Turkey Relations A Flourishing Partnership in Asia 5 July 2017 Retrieved 3 July 2023 1956 Ferguson s Ceylon Directory 1956 p 31 1959 Ferguson s Ceylon Directory 1959 p 243 Bilateral cooperation Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Retrieved 24 December 2021 Ferguson s Ceylon Directory 1959 p 209 Hungary Pannonia Press 1969 p 74 Todos los paises in Portuguese Retrieved 16 September 2023 Yitzhak Oron 1961 Middle East Record Volume 2 1961 Volume 2 Israel Oriental Society The Reuven Shiloah Research Center p 294 1963 Ferguson s Ceylon Directory 105 ed The Ceylon Observer Press 1963 p 167 3758 ACUERDO POR CANJE DE NOTAS SOBRE ESTABLECIMIENTO DE RELACIONES DIPLOMATICAS ENTRE LA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA Y CEILAN ESTE ESTADO CAMBIo SU DENOMINACIoN OFICIAL POR SRI LANKA EN 1972 in Spanish 5 January 1962 Sri Lanka ve buen momento para relacion con la region in Spanish 16 June 2014 Retrieved 8 June 2023 Daily Report Foreign Radio Broadcasts Issues 126 130 Page 5 United States Central Intelligence Agency 1965 Africa Research Bulletin Blackwell 1973 p 2834 Saudi Sri Lankan ties on upswing 4 February 2014 Retrieved 10 July 2022 RELACIONES DIPLOMATICAS DE LA REPUBLICA DE PANAMA PDF p 195 Archived from the original PDF on 6 August 2020 Retrieved 30 November 2021 Asian Almanac Vol 15 V T Sambandan 1977 p 8511 Translations on South and East Asia Vol 765 771 Joint Publications Research Service 27 April 1978 p 60 Ezhegodnik Bolshoj Sovetskoj Enciklopedii 1980 Vypusk dvadcat chetvertyj Zarubezhnye strany PDF in Russian p 270 Archived from the original PDF on 23 June 2023 Retrieved 29 February 2024 South and East Asia Report No 1087 United States Joint Publications Research Service 13 January 1982 p 61 Retrieved 3 February 2024 Sri Lanka Foreign Affairs A Review of Activities Carried Out During the Period 1994 1998 with Highlights of Sri Lanka s Foreign Relations in the Post independence Period Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka 1988 p 156 Summary of World Broadcasts Far East Vol 3 BBC 1984 pp A 9 a b c d e f Diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Retrieved 10 July 2022 Sri Lanka has consistently supported to safeguard the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people Hon Speaker 22 April 2021 Retrieved 6 April 2024 Order of Precedence of Heads of Diplomatic Missions Accredited to Sri Lanka and Dates of Presentation of Credentials Ferguson s Sri Lanka Directory 1992 93 125th Edition p 117 Retrieved 24 September 2023 Order of Precedence of Heads Diplomatic Missions Accredited to Sri Lanka and Dates of Presentation of Credentials Ferguson s Sri Lanka Directory 1992 93 125th Edition p 117 Retrieved 24 September 2023 Order of Precedence of Heads of Diplomatic Missions Accredited to Sri Lanka and Dates of Presentation of Credentials Ferguson s 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21 February 2015 India s Sri Lankan scars BBC News 4 May 2000 Retrieved 12 November 2011 Brief on India Sri Lanka Relations Ministry of External Affairs BSM Division Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Iran Bilateral Relations Archived 11 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Embassy of Sri Lanka in Iran The Group of 15 G 15 Government of Sri Lanka 14 May 2010 Sri Lanka Iran mutual friends Minister Archived 15 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Daily News lk 20 February 2010 Embassy of Sri Lanka in Iraq www slembirq org Retrieved 15 November 2021 Iraqi Embassy to Sri Lanka Colombo Archived from the original on 10 April 2019 Retrieved 10 April 2019 Iraq emerges to be the No 1 buyer of Sri Lankan Tea in 2018 History of Ceylon Tea Israeli agriculture minister visits Sri Lanka Archived from the original on 5 April 2012 Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka Archived from the original on 21 July 2009 Retrieved 18 July 2009 Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan Archived from the original on 18 October 2005 Retrieved 18 July 2009 Official Website of High Commission of Malaysia Colombo Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia Retrieved 27 January 2014 Sri Lanka High Commission Kuala Lumpur High Commission of Sri Lanka in Malaysia Archived from the original on 26 January 2014 Retrieved 27 January 2014 Sri Lanka to send emergency relief to Nepal 25 April 2015 President expresses support for Palestine سفارة دولة فلسطين جمهورية سريلانكا وزارة الخارجية الفلسطينية Archived from the original on 31 December 2016 Retrieved 2 January 2019 Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Korea Asia Pacific www mofa go kr Archived from the original on 4 September 2015 a b From Rep of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs Retrieved 15 November 2021 a b MVEP Date of Recognition and Establishment of Diplomatic Relations MVEP Overview of Bilateral Treaties of the Republic of Croatia by Country a b c Home MFA mfa gov cy Retrieved 15 November 2021 The Embassy Archived from the original on 8 February 2017 Retrieved 26 January 2017 Sri Lanka PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2 February 2017 Retrieved 26 January 2017 Sri Lanka News Online edition of Daily News Lakehouse Newspapers Archived from the original on 9 June 2011 Retrieved 24 June 2011 Embassy of Czech Republic in Sri Lanka Retrieved 21 February 2015 Sri Lanka Army Equipment globalsecurity org Retrieved 9 June 2013 a b Sri Lanka the Hellenic Republic Bilateral Relations Archived from the original on 21 February 2017 Retrieved 26 January 2017 a b Greece s Bilateral Relations Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Embassy in Vienna Archived from the original on 4 May 2009 Retrieved 3 May 2009 List of honorary consuls in Hungary in Hungarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary Archived from the original on 1 January 2009 Retrieved 3 May 2009 Consulate of the Republic of Hungary Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary Archived from the original on 10 June 2007 Retrieved 3 May 2009 Bilateral Relations Sri Lanka Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary Retrieved 3 May 2009 permanent dead link a b Sri Lanka Poland Bilateral Relations Archived from the original on 5 December 2014 Retrieved 21 February 2015 Felicitations to Romania Archived from the original on 5 June 2011 Retrieved 24 June 2011 a b Google Translate Retrieved 21 February 2015 Lankan Envoy to Poland passes away Archived from the original on 5 June 2011 Retrieved 24 June 2011 Foreign Minister condoles the death of Sri Lankan envoy in Poland Retrieved 21 February 2015 Sri Lanka News Adaderana Truth First Retrieved 21 February 2015 Envoys present credentials to President Patil Thaindian News Archived from the original on 21 February 2015 Retrieved 21 February 2015 HOME LankaPuvath Retrieved 15 November 2021 Sri Lanka New ambassadors and high commissioner present credentials to Sri Lanka President Retrieved 21 February 2015 Sri Lankan refugees leave Indonesia official Retrieved 21 February 2015 Romanian market still untapped Archived from the original on 5 June 2011 Retrieved 24 June 2011 Tea Board taps Romanian and Serbian tea markets Archived from the original on 5 June 2011 Retrieved 24 June 2011 Golden opportunity to expand exports Archived from the original on 5 June 2011 Retrieved 24 June 2011 Sri Lanka www mfa gov rs Archived from the original on 31 December 2016 SRI LANKA Archived from the original on 31 December 2016 Retrieved 30 December 2016 Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs New Zealand Archived from the original on 3 November 2014 Further reading editCopper J F China and Sri Lanka Old Friendship Renewed Asia Quarterly 2 1975 101 110 Hoglund Kristine and Isak Svensson Mediating between tigers and lions Norwegian peace diplomacy in Sri Lanka s civil war Contemporary South Asia 17 2 2009 175 191 Peebles Patrick The History of Sri Lanka Greenwood 2005 Suryanarayan V Sri Lanka s policy towards China Legacy of the past and prospects for the future China Report 30 2 1994 203 21External links editMinistry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka Fallacy and the Reality of IMF Standby Arrangement for Sri Lanka by The Sunday Times Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Foreign relations of Sri Lanka amp oldid 1220346458, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
