Foreign relations of Sri Lanka
Encyclopedia
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 China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia, United States, 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 (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, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Asian Development Bank (ADB) 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’s Foreign Policy has been founded on 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.
Countries considered Sri Lanka’s closest include China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, South Korea & Malaysia.
Sri Lanka has also fostered a friendly relationship with Russia and United States.
China is the largest supplier of military equipment to Sri Lanka; the two countries also collaborate extensively in the sphere of counter-terrorism and military technology. Sri Lanka also enjoys strong military relations with several other countries, including Pakistan, India & Bangladesh.
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.
has undertaken a first-time, systematic analysis of the trends in Sri Lanka’s economic, military, and diplomatic relations with China over the last decade.
, 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.
. Sri Lanka has an embassy in Tokyo
.
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
. Sri Lanka has a high commission in Malé
. Both countries were founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC) in December 1985.
and Sri Lanka
. The Romanian Ambassador in New Delhi
in Concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka, while the Sri Lanka Mission in Warsaw
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".
History
Diplomatic relation between Sri Lanka and Romania were established on 15th 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.
Sri Lankans in Romania
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 there way to Australia
.
Trade
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.
Bilateral agreements
Romania and Sri Lanka have the following bilateral agreements in place:
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
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 China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia, United States, 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 (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, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Asian Development Bank (ADB) 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 foreign policy is to maintain a strong, independent, powerful and united Sri Lanka; The Sri Lanka foreign policy establishment maintains that in achieving this goal.Sri Lanka’s Foreign Policy has been founded on 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.
Allies
Sri Lanka’s growing economy, strategic location, friendly foreign policy has won it more allies. Sri Lanka has friendly relations with several countries in the developing world. Though Sri Lanka is not a part of any major military alliance, it has close strategic and military relationship with most of the major powers.Countries considered Sri Lanka’s closest include China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, South Korea & Malaysia.
Sri Lanka has also fostered a friendly relationship with Russia and United States.
China is the largest supplier of military equipment to Sri Lanka; the two countries also collaborate extensively in the sphere of counter-terrorism and military technology. Sri Lanka also enjoys strong military relations with several other countries, including Pakistan, India & Bangladesh.
Raw materials need
Sri Lanka and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf (GCC) enjoy strong economic and military ties. This is reflected in the fact that more than 90% of the oil consumed by Sri Lanka comes from the Persian Gulf countries and Sri Lankan nationals form one of the largest expatriate communities in the Arabian Peninsula. Sri Lanka is one of the largest trading partners of the GCC. The Gulf countries have also played an important role in addressing Sri Lanka's energy security concerns with Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates regularly increasing their oil supply to Sri Lanka to meet the country's rising energy demand. In 2008, United Arab Emirates decided to invest in Sri Lanka's energy sector.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 (MoD).Bangladesh
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.
Bhutan
- Diplomatic relations began in 1987.
- The ambassador of the Sri Lankan High CommissionDiplomatic missions of Sri LankaThis is a list of diplomatic missions of Sri Lanka, excluding honorary consulates.-Europe:** Vienna ** Brussels ** Paris ** Berlin ** Frankfurt ** Rome ** The Hague...
in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan. - The ambassador of the Bhutanese Embassy in Dhaka is accredited to Sri Lanka.
- Bhutan has an honorary consulate in ColomboColomboColombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
.
China
In a Summer 2011 article for the academic journal Asian Security, Nilanthi Samaranayake of CNACenter for Naval Analyses
CNA's Center for Naval Analyses is a federally funded research and development center for the Navy and the Marine Corps. It also provides research and analysis services to other military and government agencies to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of U.S...
has undertaken a first-time, systematic analysis of the trends in Sri Lanka’s economic, military, and diplomatic relations with China over the last decade.
India
India is the most important foreign player in Sri Lanka. India and Sri Lanka have generally maintained a healthy relationship, Although it was affected in mid-1980s due to India's involvement in Sri Lankan civil war.It is also widely believed that India helped Sri Lanka, wipe off the LTTE in the latter stages of the civil war. India had helped Sri Lanka with military training and intelligence for Sri Lankan civil war, after a long reluctance.Israel
Sri Lanka has a close relationship with IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and its military is a major user of Israeli weapons systems that include the IAI Kfir
IAI Kfir
The Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir is an Israeli-built all-weather, multirole combat aircraft based on a modified Dassault Mirage 5 airframe, with Israeli avionics and an Israeli-made version of the General Electric J79 turbojet engine.-Background:...
Fighter Jet, the Super Dvora Mk III
Super Dvora Mk III
Super Dvora Mark III is the latest generation of the venerable Dvora family of fast patrol boats or fast attack crafts . Manufactured by IAI Ramta in 2004 these vessels are capable of speeding up to in littoral waters thanks to its state of the art thrust vectoring control Articulated Surface...
class Patrol Vessel, and the Gabriel missile
Gabriel missile
Gabriel missiles, created by Israel Aircraft Industries, are a range of anti-ship missiles that use the technique of sea-skimming.- Origin :...
. In May 2011, the Israeli Minister of Agriculture visited Sri Lanka with an agro-business delegation
Agriculture in Israel
Agriculture in Israel is a highly developed industry: Israel is a major exporter of fresh produce and a world-leader in agricultural technologies despite the fact that the geography of Israel is not naturally conducive to agriculture. More than half of the land area is desert, and the climate and...
to promote cooperation between the two countries.
Japan
Japan has an embassy in ColomboColombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. Sri Lanka has an embassy in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
Maldives
Official and economic relations between the neighboring Indian OceanIndian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
countries of the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, 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
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. Sri Lanka has a high commission in Malé
Malé
Malé , is the capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives. It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll . It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where...
. Both countries were founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is an organisation of South Asian nations, founded in December 1985 by Ziaur Rahman and dedicated to economic, technological, social, and cultural development emphasising collective self-reliance. Its seven founding members are Bangladesh,...
(SAARC) in December 1985.
Pakistan
- Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
's ties with Pakistan is warming gradually. Pakistan has been recently supplying military equipment to the Sri Lankan armedArmedArmed was an American Thoroughbred gelding race horse. He was sired by the great stakes winner Bull Lea, which made him a half-brother to Citation...
forces. In the past, Pakistan has been a major ally of Sri Lanka in supplying High-Tech military equipment to the Sri Lankan army in the civil war against the Tamil rebels prevailing in the country. - There is a Pakistani embassy located in Sri Lanka and a Sri Lankan embassy situated in Pakistan.
- Sri Lankan government and Pakistani government are determined to increase their military as well as economic ties. They are also working on a mutual cooperation agreement on combating terrorism.
United States
- 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.
Czech Republic
- Historical relations between 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.
Estonia
- Sri Lanka recognised Estonia on the 10 October 1991.
- Sri Lanka has an embassy in Stockholm which serves Estonia.
- Estonia has no embassy for Sri Lanka.
- Economic relations between Sri Lanka and Estonia are at moderate level.
Holy See
- Formal Relations Began in 1978.
- The Holy See has a nunciature in Colombo. Sri Lanka has an embassy in Rome.
Hungary
- Sri Lanka has an embassy in ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
that is accredited to Hungary and has a consul in BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter... - Hungary maintains a consulate in ColomboColomboColombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, Sri Lanka. - The relationship is low-keyed, but there are no outstanding issues. Hungary contributed to relief after the 2004 Tsunami2004 Indian Ocean earthquakeThe 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
, and has since stepped up aid to Sri Lanka.
Romania
Romania-Sri Lankan relations are foreign relations between the RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. The Romanian Ambassador in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
in Concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka, while the Sri Lanka Mission in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
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".
History
Diplomatic relation between Sri Lanka and Romania were established on 15th September 1957. Initially maintained at Legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
level, the relations were later raised to Ambassadorial level in 1967. In 1963 Romania opened a Commercial Office in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, this was upgraded to as Embassy in 1976 with a chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
. 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
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is an appointment in the Cabinet of Sri Lanka. The post was created in 1978 when the former Ministry of External Affairs and Defence was separated into two ministries...
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
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Percy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa ; ; born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and served as prime minister from April 6,...
to become Ambassador-Designate of Romania to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankans in Romania
In December 2009 with the end of the civil war
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
in Sri Lanka 46 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees were sent to Romania to be processed for resettlement from Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
on there way to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Trade
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.
Bilateral agreements
Romania and Sri Lanka have the following bilateral agreements in place:
- PAYMENTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUMANIAN PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC. SIGNED AT COLOMBO, ON 16 MARCH 1956
- TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUMANIAN PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC. SIGNED AT COLOMBO, ON 16 MARCH 1956
- Agreement to promote cultural cooperation (1974)
- Agreement on the promotion and protection of investment (1987)
- Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation (1987)
External links
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka
- Fallacy and the Reality of IMF Standby Arrangement for Sri Lanka by The Sunday TimesThe Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...