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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.
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 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.
List of countries which Sri Lanka maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date[2] |
---|---|---|
1 | United Kingdom | 22 October 1946 |
2 | Australia | 29 April 1947 |
3 | Turkey | 4 February 1948[3] |
4 | Pakistan | 3 May 1948[4] |
5 | India | 11 October 1948[5] |
6 | France | 27 October 1948 |
7 | United States | 29 October 1948 |
8 | Myanmar | 7 June 1949 |
9 | Sweden | 18 November 1949 |
10 | Italy | 18 April 1950 |
11 | Norway | 13 October 1950 |
12 | Netherlands | 23 November 1951 |
13 | Japan | 28 April 1952[6] |
14 | Cambodia | 28 May 1952 |
15 | Indonesia | 6 August 1952 |
16 | Denmark | 5 January 1953 |
17 | Portugal | January 1953 |
18 | Belgium | 27 July 1953 |
19 | Canada | 20 August 1953 |
20 | Germany | 3 December 1953 |
21 | Finland | 24 September 1954 |
22 | Spain | 12 April 1955 |
23 | Austria | 28 October 1955[7] |
24 | Thailand | 20 November 1955 |
25 | New Zealand | 14 December 1955 |
26 | Switzerland | 7 November 1956[8] |
27 | China | 7 February 1957 |
28 | Russia | 19 February 1957 |
29 | Poland | 18 April 1957 |
30 | Nepal | 1 July 1957 |
31 | Romania | 15 September 1957 |
32 | Czech Republic | September 1957 |
33 | Serbia | 14 October 1957[9] |
34 | Egypt | 24 October 1957 |
35 | Malaysia | October 1957 |
36 | Israel | 1 January 1958 |
37 | Greece | 19 March 1958[10] |
38 | Afghanistan | 1 November 1958 |
39 | Hungary | 15 February 1959[11] |
40 | Cuba | 29 July 1959 |
41 | Brazil | 22 January 1960[12] |
42 | Mexico | 19 April 1960 |
43 | Senegal | 1960 |
44 | Philippines | 11 January 1961 |
45 | Iraq | 22 February 1961[13] |
46 | Ghana | 6 March 1961[14] |
47 | Argentina | 5 January 1962[15] |
48 | Mongolia | 1 February 1962 |
49 | Bulgaria | 10 June 1962 |
50 | Algeria | 1962 |
51 | Chile | 1962 |
52 | Iran | 1962 |
53 | Bolivia | 1963[16] |
54 | Jordan | 6 July 1965[17] |
55 | Laos | 20 July 1965 |
56 | Maldives | 26 July 1965 |
57 | Sudan | 1967 |
58 | Syria | 10 May 1969 |
59 | Nigeria | January 1970 |
60 | North Korea | 15 July 1970 |
61 | Singapore | 20 July 1970 |
62 | Vietnam | 21 July 1970 |
63 | Kenya | 1970 |
64 | Kuwait | 19 February 1971 |
65 | Bangladesh | 4 March 1972 |
66 | Luxembourg | 27 July 1972 |
67 | Fiji | September 1972 |
68 | Uganda | 30 November 1972 |
69 | Ethiopia | 1972 |
70 | Guinea-Bissau | 1972 |
71 | Libya | 1972 |
72 | Trinidad and Tobago | 1972 |
73 | Zambia | 16 April 1973[18] |
74 | Tanzania | July 1973 |
75 | Guyana | 14 July 1974 |
76 | Saudi Arabia | 30 November 1974[19] |
77 | Peru | 17 March 1975 |
— | Holy See | 15 February 1976 |
78 | Panama | 8 March 1976[20] |
79 | Qatar | 20 July 1976 |
80 | Costa Rica | 11 June 1977[21] |
81 | South Korea | 14 November 1977 |
82 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 13 May 1978[22] |
83 | United Arab Emirates | 19 July 1979 |
84 | Yemen | September 1979[23] |
85 | Albania | 4 March 1980 |
86 | Cyprus | 4 March 1980[24] |
87 | Oman | 17 February 1981 |
88 | Tunisia | 7 December 1981[25] |
89 | Bhutan | 13 May 1982 |
90 | Papua New Guinea | 17 November 1982 |
91 | Zimbabwe | 1983[26] |
92 | Vanuatu | 28 September 1983 |
93 | Tonga | 10 January 1984[27] |
94 | Brunei | 3 April 1984 |
95 | Venezuela | 9 April 1987 |
96 | Colombia | 30 September 1988[28] |
— | State of Palestine | 6 February 1989[29] |
97 | Somalia | 20 April 1990[30] |
98 | Morocco | 27 November 1990[31] |
99 | Guinea | 6 August 1991[32] |
100 | Armenia | 12 February 1992 |
101 | Ukraine | 12 February 1992 |
102 | Bahrain | 27 June 1992 |
103 | Kazakhstan | 29 June 1992[33] |
104 | Azerbaijan | 4 August 1992 |
105 | Moldova | 27 November 1992 |
106 | Slovakia | 15 February 1993[34] |
107 | Tajikistan | 20 April 1994 |
108 | South Africa | 12 September 1994 |
109 | Estonia | 31 January 1996 |
110 | Kyrgyzstan | 29 January 1996 |
111 | Ireland | February 1996[35] |
112 | Turkmenistan | 18 April 1996 |
113 | Slovenia | 25 July 1996 |
114 | Lithuania | 20 August 1996 |
115 | Latvia | 19 September 1996 |
116 | Croatia | 10 February 1997 |
117 | Lebanon | 7 May 1997 |
118 | North Macedonia | 10 April 1998 |
119 | Georgia | June 1998 |
120 | Seychelles | 3 October 1998 |
121 | Jamaica | 29 September 1998 |
122 | Iceland | 23 December 1998 |
123 | Mozambique | 12 March 1999 |
124 | Namibia | 8 April 1999 |
125 | Uruguay | 21 July 1999 |
126 | Uzbekistan | 11 October 1999 |
127 | Malta | 27 January 2000 |
128 | Eswatini | 27 June 2000 |
129 | Lesotho | 14 July 2000 |
130 | Belarus | 20 November 2000 |
131 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 22 June 2001 |
132 | Madagascar | 27 July 2001 |
133 | Angola | 3 February 2004 |
134 | Bahamas | 19 July 2005 |
135 | Eritrea | 15 November 2007 |
136 | Botswana | 27 October 2008 |
137 | Paraguay | 3 April 2009 |
138 | Liberia | 17 July 2009[36] |
139 | Mauritius | 20 July 2010[37] |
140 | Dominican Republic | 3 February 2011 |
141 | Montenegro | 4 April 2011 |
142 | Rwanda | 20 April 2011 |
143 | Ecuador | 9 May 2011[28] |
144 | Malawi | 9 June 2011 |
145 | Mali | 19 January 2012 |
146 | Republic of the Congo | 1 February 2012 |
147 | San Marino | 7 June 2012 |
148 | Burkina Faso | 15 November 2012 |
149 | Suriname | 16 November 2012 |
150 | El Salvador | 10 December 2012 |
151 | Haiti | 14 December 2012 |
152 | Grenada | 19 December 2012 |
153 | Mauritania | 21 December 2012 |
154 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 15 January 2013 |
155 | Guatemala | 26 February 2013 |
156 | Honduras | 12 March 2013 |
157 | Solomon Islands | 3 July 2013 |
158 | Benin | 12 August 2013[38] |
159 | South Sudan | 25 September 2013 |
160 | Sierra Leone | 16 November 2013 |
161 | Ivory Coast | 5 March 2014 |
162 | Samoa | 15 August 2014 |
163 | Togo | 27 September 2015 |
164 | Djibouti | 16 November 2015 |
165 | Monaco | 26 July 2016 |
166 | Andorra | 30 November 2016[39] |
167 | Dominica | 17 April 2018 |
168 | Burundi | 11 March 2019 |
169 | Gambia | 10 May 2019 |
170 | Nicaragua | 10 May 2019 |
171 | Saint Lucia | 25 June 2019 |
172 | Barbados | 28 June 2019 |
173 | Liechtenstein | 5 March 2021[28] |
174 | Gabon | 19 March 2021[28] |
175 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 22 March 2021[28] |
176 | East Timor | 4 May 2022[28] |
Countries to establish relations:
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Kenya | 1970 | See Kenya–Sri Lanka relations |
South Africa | 16 September 1994 | See South Africa–Sri Lanka relations |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Cuba | 29 July 1959 | See Cuba–Sri Lanka relations |
Mexico | 19 April 1960 | See Mexico–Sri Lanka relations
|
United States | 23 October 1948 | See Sri Lanka–United States relations
|
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Armenia | 12 February 1992 | See Foreign relations of Armenia |
Azerbaijan | See Azerbaijan–Sri Lanka relations
| |
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 personnel to study in Bangladesh. |
Bhutan | 13 May 1987 |
|
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. |
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.[45] 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.[46] |
Indonesia | 6 August 1952 | See Indonesia–Sri Lanka relations
|
Iran | 1961 | See Iran–Sri Lanka relations
Iran and Sri Lanka have had official diplomatic relations since 1961.[47] 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.[48] Mahinda Rajapaksa also made ties with Iran a priority after he ascended to office.[49] |
Iraq | 22 February 1961 | See Sri Lanka–Iraq relations
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.[52] |
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.[53] |
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.[54] Sri Lanka has an embassy in Tokyo.[55] Sri Lankan President JR Jayawardene played a major role in re-admitting Japan to the world community at the San Francisco Conference |
Malaysia | October 1957 | See Malaysia–Sri Lanka relations
Malaysia has a High Commission in Colombo,[56] and Sri Lanka has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur.[57] |
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. |
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.[58] |
Pakistan | May 1948 | See Pakistan–Sri Lanka relations |
Palestine | April 1982 | See Palestine–Sri Lanka relations
|
Philippines | 17 April 1958 | See Philippines–Sri Lanka relations |
South Korea | 14 November 1977 |
see South Korea–Sri Lanka relations 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.[61] The Republic of Korea has an embassy in Colombo. Sri Lanka has an embassy in Seoul. |
Turkey | September 1958 | See Sri Lanka–Turkey relations |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Croatia | 14 February 1997 | Foreign relations of Croatia |
Cyprus | March 1981 |
|
Czech Republic | 28 December 1957 and 15 February 1993 |
|
Denmark | 5 January 1953 | See Denmark–Sri Lanka relations |
Estonia | 31 January 1996 | See Estonia–Sri Lanka relations
|
Germany | 9 December 1953 | See Germany–Sri Lanka relations |
Greece | 1957 | |
Holy See | 6 September 1975 | See Holy See–Sri Lanka relations
|
Hungary | 15 February 1959 | See Hungary–Sri Lanka relations
|
Italy |
Both countries established diplomatic relations. | |
North Macedonia | 10 April 1998 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 April 1998 |
Poland | 18 April 1957 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 April 1957.
|
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.[77] The President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga characterized relations between the two countries in 2003 as "close and friendly".[78] 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.[77] Romania provided 32,000 euros worth of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devastated the country in December 2004.[79] The ambassador designate of Sri Lanka in Bucharest was Clarence Felician Chinniah[79] until his death in January 2009.[80][81] In December 2009, Valerica Epure presented her credentials to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to become Ambassador-Designate of Romania to Sri Lanka.[82][83][84][85] 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.[86] Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Romania was valued at US$8.87 million in 2007, up from US$7.9 million in 2006.[87] Efforts have been made to expand trade in Ceylon tea to Romania.[88] 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.[89] |
Russia | 19 February 1957 | See Russia–Sri Lanka relations
|
Serbia | 14 October 1957 | |
Spain | 10 July 1955 | See Spain–Sri Lanka relations
|
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. |
United Kingdom | 4 February 1948 | See Sri Lanka–United Kingdom relations
The UK established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 22 October 1946.
The UK governed Sri Lanka from 1802 to 1948, until it achieved full independence as Ceylon. Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement.[93] |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Australia | 4 February 1948 | See Australia–Sri Lanka relations |
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 visits to Sri Lanka:
|
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