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.

Since the 1950s, Sri Lanka has followed a non-aligned foreign policy, which 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 the 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, whose foreign policy establishment maintains it in achieving that goal.

Sri Lanka's foreign policy has been founded in the national interest. In a period of rapid and continuing change, foreign policy can respond 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 are the overall unified military of Sri Lanka and encompass the Sri Lanka Army, Navy, and Air Force, which come under the Ministry of Defence (MOD). They receive military support mainly from China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Israel. The United States also gives limited support.

Diplomatic relations

Following is a list of countries Sri Lanka maintains diplomatic relations with:

CountryDate[2]
1United Kingdom22 October 1946
2Australia29 April 1947
3Turkey4 February 1948[3]
4Pakistan3 May 1948[4]
5India11 October 1948[5]
6France27 October 1948
7United States29 October 1948
8Myanmar7 June 1949
9Sweden18 November 1949
10Italy18 April 1950
11Norway13 October 1950
12Netherlands23 November 1951
13Japan28 April 1952[6]
14Cambodia28 May 1952
15Indonesia6 August 1952
16Denmark5 January 1953
17PortugalJanuary 1953
18Belgium27 July 1953
19Canada20 August 1953
20Germany3 December 1953
21Austria19 February 1954[7]
22Finland24 September 1954
23Spain12 April 1955
24Thailand20 November 1955
25New Zealand14 December 1955
26Switzerland5 October 1956[8]
27China7 February 1957
28Russia19 February 1957
29Poland18 April 1957
30Nepal1 July 1957
31Czech Republic11 September 1957[9]
32Romania15 September 1957
33Serbia14 October 1957[10]
34Egypt24 October 1957
35MalaysiaOctober 1957
36Israel1 January 1958
37Greece19 March 1958[11]
38Afghanistan1 November 1958
39Hungary15 February 1959[12]
40Cuba29 July 1959
41Brazil22 January 1960[13]
42Mexico19 April 1960
43Senegal1960
44Philippines11 January 1961
45Ghana24 January 1961[14]
46Iraq22 February 1961[15]
47Argentina5 January 1962[16]
48Mongolia1 February 1962
49Bulgaria10 June 1962
50Chile1962
51Iran1962
52Bolivia1963[17]
53Jordan6 July 1965[18]
54Laos20 July 1965
55Maldives26 July 1965
56Sudan17 October 1968[19]
57Syria10 May 1969
58NigeriaJanuary 1970
59North Korea15 July 1970
60Singapore20 July 1970
61Vietnam21 July 1970
62Kenya4 September 1970[20]
63Trinidad and TobagoNovember 1971[21]
64Kuwait19 February 1971
65Bangladesh4 March 1972
66Luxembourg27 July 1972
67FijiSeptember 1972
68Uganda30 November 1972
69Algeria1972[22]
70Ethiopia1972
71Libya1972
72Zambia16 April 1973[23]
73TanzaniaJuly 1973
74Guyana14 July 1974
75Saudi Arabia30 November 1974[24]
76Peru17 March 1975
—Holy See15 February 1976
77Panama8 March 1976[25]
78Mauritius19 July 1976[26]
79Qatar20 July 1976
80Costa Rica11 June 1977[27]
81South Korea14 November 1977
82Democratic Republic of the Congo13 May 1978[28]
83United Arab Emirates19 July 1979
84YemenSeptember 1979[29]
85Albania4 March 1980
86Cyprus4 March 1980[30]
87Oman17 February 1981
88Tunisia7 December 1981[31]
89Somalia4 January 1982[32]
90Bhutan13 May 1982
91Papua New Guinea17 November 1982
92Zimbabwe1983[33]
93Vanuatu28 September 1983
94Tonga10 January 1984[34]
95Brunei3 April 1984
96Venezuela9 April 1987
97Colombia30 September 1988[35]
—State of Palestine6 February 1989[36]
98Morocco27 November 1990[37]
99Guinea6 August 1991[38]
100Armenia12 February 1992
101Ukraine12 February 1992
102Bahrain27 June 1992
103Kazakhstan29 June 1992[39]
104Azerbaijan4 August 1992
105Moldova27 November 1992
106Slovakia15 February 1993[40]
107Tajikistan20 April 1994
108South Africa12 September 1994
109Estonia31 January 1996
110Kyrgyzstan29 January 1996
111IrelandFebruary 1996[41]
112Turkmenistan18 April 1996
113Slovenia25 July 1996
114Lithuania20 August 1996
115Latvia19 September 1996
116Croatia10 February 1997
117Lebanon7 May 1997
118North Macedonia10 April 1998
119Georgia16 June 1998[42]
120Seychelles3 October 1998
121Jamaica29 September 1998
122Iceland23 December 1998
123Mozambique12 March 1999
124Namibia8 April 1999
125Uruguay21 July 1999
126Uzbekistan11 October 1999
127Malta27 January 2000
128Eswatini27 June 2000
129Lesotho14 July 2000
130Belarus20 November 2000
131Bosnia and Herzegovina22 June 2001
132Madagascar27 July 2001
133Angola3 February 2004
134Bahamas19 July 2005
135Eritrea15 November 2007
136Botswana27 October 2008
137Paraguay3 April 2009
138Liberia17 July 2009[43]
139Dominican Republic3 February 2011
140Montenegro4 April 2011
141Rwanda20 April 2011
142Ecuador9 May 2011[35]
143Malawi9 June 2011
144Mali19 January 2012
145Republic of the Congo1 February 2012
146San Marino7 June 2012
147Burkina Faso15 November 2012
148Suriname16 November 2012
149El Salvador10 December 2012
150Haiti14 December 2012
151Grenada19 December 2012
152Mauritania21 December 2012
153Saint Vincent and the Grenadines15 January 2013
154Guatemala26 February 2013
155Honduras12 March 2013
156Solomon Islands3 July 2013
157Benin12 August 2013[44]
158South Sudan25 September 2013
159Sierra Leone16 November 2013
160Ivory Coast5 March 2014
161Samoa15 August 2014
162Togo27 September 2015
163Djibouti16 November 2015
164Monaco26 July 2016
165Andorra30 November 2016[45]
166Dominica17 April 2018
167Burundi11 March 2019
168Gambia10 May 2019
169Nicaragua10 May 2019
170Saint Lucia25 June 2019
171Barbados28 June 2019
172Liechtenstein5 March 2021[35]
173Gabon19 March 2021[35]
174Saint Kitts and Nevis22 March 2021[35]
175Timor-Leste4 May 2022[35]
176Guinea-Bissau6 December 2023[46][47]
177Antigua and Barbuda3 October 2025[35]
178Belize21 October 2025[35]

Bilateral relations

Africa

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
Kenya1970See Kenya–Sri Lanka relations
South Africa16 September 1994See South Africa–Sri Lanka relations

Americas

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
Cuba29 July 1959See Cuba–Sri Lanka relations
Mexico19 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.[48]
  • Sri Lanka is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, DC, United States, and maintains an honorary consulate in Mexico City.[49]
United States23 October 1948

See Sri Lanka–United States relations

  • The US Embassy in Sri Lanka is located in Colombo, as are the US 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, DC.

Asia

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
Armenia12 February 1992

See Foreign relations of Armenia

  • Armenia is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi, India.[50]
  • Sri Lanka is accredited to Armenia from its embassy in Moscow, Russia.[50]
Azerbaijan

See Azerbaijan–Sri Lanka relations

  • Azerbaijan is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi, India.
  • Sri Lanka is accredited to Azerbaijan from its embassy in Tehran, Iran.
Bangladesh1972See Bangladesh – Sri Lanka relations
Bhutan13 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.[51]
  • Bhutan has an honorary consulate in Colombo.
China7 February 1957See China–Sri Lanka relations
India4 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 the Indian Peace Keeping Force during the 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.[52]

Relations between India and 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 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.[53]

Indonesia6 August 1952

See Indonesia–Sri Lanka relations

  • Indonesia has an embassy in Colombo.
  • Sri Lanka has an embassy in Jakarta.
Iran1961

See Iran–Sri Lanka relations

Iran and Sri Lanka have had official diplomatic relations since 1961.[54]

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.[55] Mahinda Rajapaksa also made ties with Iran a priority after he ascended to office.[56]

Iraq22 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.[59]

Israel1 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.[60]

Japan28 April 1952

See Japan – Sri Lanka relations

During the Second World War, an air raid was carried out by Japan to bomb the city of Colombo in Sri Lanka. Later, relations between Japan and Sri Lanka became friendly, and they established official relations in 1952. Japan has an embassy in Colombo.[61] Sri Lanka has an embassy in Tokyo.[62] Sri Lankan President JR Jayawardene played a major role in re-admitting Japan to the world community at the San Francisco Conference

MalaysiaOctober 1957

See Malaysia–Sri Lanka relations

Malaysia has a high commission in Colombo,[63] and Sri Lanka has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur.[64]

Maldives26 July 1965See Maldives–Sri Lanka relations
Nepal1 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 Sri Lanka Air Force|Aiorce sent flights of C-130 Hercules aircraft, and SriLankan Airlines sent Airbus A330 aircraft, carrying Sri Lanka Army emergency teams.[65]

PakistanMay 1948See Pakistan–Sri Lanka relations
PalestineApril 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.[66] There is an embassy for the state of Palestine in Colombo.[67]
Philippines17 April 1958See Philippines–Sri Lanka relations
South Korea14 November 1977

see South Korea–Sri Lanka relations

Diplomatic relations between both nations were established on 14 November 1977. South Korean investments in Sri Lanka (cumulative total at the end of June 2014) total $731 million.[68] The Republic of Korea has an embassy in Colombo. Sri Lanka has an embassy in Seoul.

TurkeySeptember 1958

See Sri Lanka–Turkey relations

  • Sri Lanka has an embassy in Ankara.[69]
  • Turkey has an embassy in Colombo.[69]

Europe

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
Croatia14 February 1997

Foreign relations of Croatia

  • Sri Lanka recognised Croatia on 27 May 1992.[70]
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 February 1997.[70]
  • Both countries have agreed on bilateral treaties in various fields.[71]
CyprusMarch 1981
  • Cyprus is accredited to Sri Lanka by its High Commission in New Delhi, India[72] and an honorary consulate in Colombo.[72]
  • Sri Lanka is accredited to Cyprus from its embassy in Rome, Italy[73] and an honorary consulate in Larnaca.[72]
  • Both countries have agreed on bilateral treaties in various fields.[74]
  • Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
Czech Republic28 December 1957 and 15 February 1993
  • Historically, 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.[75]
  • The Czech Republic has a consulate in Colombo.[76]
  • In 2000 Czech Republic provided RM-70 multiple rocket launchers for Sri Lanka Army.[77]
Denmark5 January 1953See Denmark–Sri Lanka relations
Estonia31 January 1996See Estonia–Sri Lanka relations
Germany9 December 1953

See Germany–Sri Lanka relations

  • Germany has an embassy in Colombo.
  • Sri Lanka has an embassy in Berlin.
Greece1957
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1957.[78]
  • Greece is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi, India.[79]
  • Sri Lanka is accredited to Greece from its embassy in Rome, Italy.[78][79]
Holy See6 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.
Hungary15 February 1959

See Hungary–Sri Lanka relations

  • Sri Lanka has an embassy in Vienna, Austria that is accredited to Hungary.[80] and has a consul in Budapest[81]
  • Hungary maintains a consulate in Colombo.[82]
  • Relations are 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.[83]
Romania15 September 1957

See Romania–Sri Lanka relations

The Romanian Ambassador in New Delhi is concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lanka Mission in Warsaw, Poland, is concurrently accredited to Romania.[84] The President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga characterized relations between the two countries in 2003 as "close and friendly".[85]

Diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Romania were established on 15 September 1957. They werre initially maintained at Legation level but were raised to ambassadorial level in 1967. In 1963, Romania opened a commercial office in Colombo, which 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.[84]

Romania provided 32,000 euros worth of humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka after it was devastated by the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004.[86]

The ambassador designate of Sri Lanka in Bucharest was Clarence Felician Chinniah[86] until his death, in January 2009.[87][88]

In December 2009, Valerica Epure presented her credentials to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to become Ambassador-Designate of Romania to Sri Lanka.[89][90][91][92]

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.[93]

Bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Romania was valued at US$8.87 million in 2007, up from US$7.9 million in 2006.[94] Efforts have been made to expand trade in Ceylon tea to Romania.[95] In 2009, the chairman and CEO of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Anil Koswatte, singled out Romania as country to which exports could be increased.[96]

Russia19 February 1957

See Russia–Sri Lanka relations

  • During the war between the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and the Tamil Tigers, Russia helped the Sri Lankese government by providing education on battlefield tactics to the Sri Lanka Army.
  • Russia has an embassy in Colombo. Sri Lanka has an embassy in Moscow.
Serbia14 October 1957
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1956.[97]
  • A number of bilateral agreements in various fields have been concluded and are in force between both countries.[98]
Spain10 July 1955

See Spain–Sri Lanka relations

  • Spain is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi, India.
  • Sri Lanka is accredited to Spain from its embassy in Paris, France.
Switzerland23 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 Sri Lankan civil war to find asylum in Switzerland.

United Kingdom4 February 1948

See Sri Lanka–United Kingdom relations

Diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom were established on 22 October 1946.

  • Sri Lanka maintains a high commission in London.
  • The United Kingdom is accredited to Sri Lanka through its high commission in Colombo.[99]

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.[100]

Oceania

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
Australia4 February 1948

See Australia–Sri Lanka relations

New Zealand14 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 & Forestry Minister Jayaratne, May 1996[101]
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath visits New Zealand 27-30 May 2026.

See also

References

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Further reading

  • 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