Foreign relations of Sri Lanka


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 traditionally follows a non-aligned foreign policy and does not take sides with major powers.
Since the end of the Cold War, the country has pursued better relations with all major powers and seeks to strengthen its diplomatic, economic and military ties with India, Bangladesh, Russia, United States, China, Pakistan, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and European Union. Sri Lanka has also forged close ties with the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, 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. It also is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation 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.

History

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.

Military

The Sri Lanka Armed Forces is the overall unified military of the Democratic Socialist Republic 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 . They receive military support from mainly India, China, Pakistan, Israel and Russia. The United States also gives limited support.

Africa

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
See Foreign relations of Angola
1970See Kenya–Sri Lanka relations
Diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Kenya was established in 1970. Sri Lanka has a High Commission in Nairobi. Sri Lanka's mission in Nairobi also serves Ethiopia, Tanzania, UNEP and UN-HABITAT, Rwanda, Mali and South Sudan.
See Foreign relations of Malawi
See Foreign relations of Mauritius
See Foreign relations of Mozambique
See Foreign relations of Nigeria
See Foreign relations of Seychelles
See South Africa–Sri Lanka relations
Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations on 12 September 1994 following the end of apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela to the new Government of South Africa of its post apartheid period.Sri Lanka is represented in South Africa through its High Commission in Pretoria.The Government of South Africa established its resident High Commission in Colombo in September 2007.
See Foreign relations of Tanzania
See Foreign relations of Zambia
See Foreign relations of Zimbabwe

Americas

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
See Foreign relations of Argentina
See Foreign relations of Brazil
See Foreign relations of Canada
See Foreign relations of Chile
See Foreign relations of Colombia
See Cuba–Sri Lanka relations
17 April 2018
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 April 2018.
14 July 1974
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 July 1974.
  • Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
19 April 1960See Mexico–Sri Lanka relations
  • Mexico is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi, India and maintains an honorary consulate in Colombo.
  • Sri Lanka is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States and maintains an honorary consulate in Mexico City.
    • See Foreign relations of Peru
    See Sri Lanka–United States relations
  • 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.
    • See Foreign relations of Venezuela

    Asia

    Europe

    CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
    See Foreign relations of Albania
    See Foreign relations of Armenia
    • Armenia is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi, India.
    • Sri Lanka is accredited to Armenia from its embassy in Moscow, Russia.
    See Foreign relations of Austria
  • Sri Lanka has an embassy in Vienna.
  • Austria has an embassy in Colombo.
    • See Foreign relations of Belgium
    See Foreign relations of Bulgaria
    4 February 1997Foreign relations of Croatia
  • Sri Lanka recognized Croatia on 27 May 1992.
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 February 1997.
  • Both countries have agreed on bilateral treaties in various fields.
  • Cyprus is accredited to Sri Lanka by its High Commission in New Delhi, India and an honorary consulate in Colombo.
  • Sri Lanka is accredited to Cyprus from its embassy in Rome, Italy and an honorary consulate in Larnaca.
  • Both countries have agreed on bilateral treaties in various fields.
  • Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
  • 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.
  • The Czech Republic has a consulate in Colombo.
  • In 2000 Czech Republic provided RM-70 multiple rocket launchers for Sri Lanka Army.
    • See Denmark–Sri Lanka relations
    10 October 1991See 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.
    • See Foreign relations of Finland
    See Foreign relations of France
    8 December 1963
  • Sri Lanka has an Embassy in Berlin, a Consulate General in Frankfurt and Honorary Consulates in Hamburg, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Munich, Mainz, Hanover and Leipzig
  • Germany has an Embassy in Sri Lanka.
  • Both countries will celebrate the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2018.
    • 1957
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1957.
  • Greece is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi, India.
  • Sri Lanka is accredited to Greece from its embassy in Rome, Italy.
    • 1978See 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.
    • See Hungary–Sri Lanka relations
  • Sri Lanka has an embassy in Vienna, Austria that is accredited to Hungary. and has a consul in Budapest
  • Hungary maintains a consulate in Colombo.
  • 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.
    • See Foreign relations of Iceland
    See Foreign relations of Ireland
    See Foreign relations of Italy
    See Foreign relations of Latvia
    See Foreign relations of Lithuania
    See Foreign relations of Luxembourg
    See Foreign relations of Malta
    1994Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1994.
    See Foreign relations of Norway
    See Foreign relations of Poland
    See Foreign relations of Portugal
    15 September 1957See 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. The President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga characterized relations between the two countries in 2003 as "close and friendly".
    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.
    Romania provided 32,000 euros worth of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devastated the country in December 2004.
    The ambassador designate of Sri Lanka in Bucharest was Clarence Felician Chinniah until his death in January 2009.
    In December 2009, Valerica Epure presented her credentials to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to become Ambassador-Designate of Romania to Sri Lanka.
    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.
    Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Romania was valued at US$8.87 million in 2007, up from US$7.9 million in 2006. Efforts have been made to expand trade in Ceylon tea to Romania. 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.
    1956
    • Both countries have established diplomatic relations in 1956.
    • A number of bilateral agreements in various fields have been concluded and are in force between both countries.
    See Foreign relations of Slovakia
    See Foreign relations of Slovenia
    See Foreign relations of Spain
    See Foreign relations of Sweden
    See Sri Lanka–Switzerland relationsIn 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.
    See Foreign relations of Ukraine
    See Sri Lanka–United Kingdom relations
    • Sri Lanka has a High Commission in London.
    • United Kingdom has a High Commission in Colombo.

    Oceania

    CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
    See Australia–Sri Lanka relations
    See Foreign relations of Fiji
    See Foreign relations of New ZealandNew 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 has a High Commission in Wellington and consulate-general in Auckland.
    New Zealand visits to Sri Lanka:
    See Foreign relations of Papua New Guinea
    July 2013
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations in July 2013.
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

    • Sri Lanka and the Commonwealth of Nations

    Sri Lanka has been a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1948, when it became independent as the Dominion of Ceylon.
    In 1972, Ceylon became a Commonwealth republic under the name of Sri Lanka.
    William Gopallawa, the last Governor-General of Ceylon became the first President of Sri Lanka.
    In November 2013, Sri Lanka hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.