Foreign relations of Sri Lanka explained

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.

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 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

List of countries which Sri Lanka maintains diplomatic relations with:

	Country	Date^[2]
1	United Kingdom
2	Australia
3	Turkey	^[3]
4	Pakistan	^[4]
5	India	^[5]
6	France
7	United States
8	Myanmar
9	Sweden
10	Italy
11	Norway
12	Netherlands
13	Japan	^[6]
14	Cambodia
15	Indonesia
16	Denmark
17	Portugal
18	Belgium
19	Canada
20	Germany
21	Finland
22	Spain
23	Austria	^[7]
24	Thailand
25	New Zealand
26	Switzerland	^[8]
27	China
28
29	Poland
30	Nepal
31	Romania
32	Czech Republic
33	Serbia	^[9]
34	Egypt
35	Malaysia
36	Israel
37	Greece	^[10]
38	Afghanistan
39	Hungary	^[11]
40	Cuba
41	Brazil	^[12]
42	Mexico
43	Senegal
44	Philippines
45	Iraq	^[13]
46	Ghana	^[14]
47	Argentina	^[15]
48	Mongolia
49	Bulgaria
50	Algeria
51	Chile
52
53		^[16]
54	Jordan	6 July ^[17]
55
56	Maldives
57	Sudan
58
59	Nigeria
60
61	Singapore
62
63	Kenya
64	Kuwait
65	Bangladesh
66	Luxembourg
67	Fiji
68	Uganda
69	Ethiopia
70	Guinea-Bissau
71	Libya
72	Trinidad and Tobago
73	Zambia	^[18]
74
75	Guyana
76	Saudi Arabia	^[19]
77	Peru
—
78	Panama	^[20]
79	Qatar
80	Costa Rica	^[21]
81
82		^[22]
83	United Arab Emirates
84		^[23]
85	Albania
86		^[24]
87	Oman
88		^[25]
89	Bhutan
90	Papua New Guinea
91	Zimbabwe	^[26]
92	Vanuatu
93	Tonga	^[27]
94
95
96	Colombia	^[28]
—		^[29]
97		^[30]
98		^[31]
99		^[32]
100	Armenia
101	Ukraine
102	Bahrain
103	Kazakhstan	^[33]
104	Azerbaijan
105
106	Slovakia	^[34]
107	Tajikistan
108	South Africa
109	Estonia
110	Kyrgyzstan
111	Ireland	^[35]
112	Turkmenistan
113	Slovenia
114	Lithuania
115	Latvia
116	Croatia
117	Lebanon
118
119	Georgia
120	Seychelles
121	Jamaica
122	Iceland
123	Mozambique
124	Namibia
125	Uruguay
126	Uzbekistan
127	Malta
128
129	Lesotho
130	Belarus
131	Bosnia and Herzegovina
132	Madagascar
133	Angola
134	Bahamas
135	Eritrea
136	Botswana
137	Paraguay
138	Liberia	^[36]
139	Mauritius	^[37]
140	Dominican Republic
141	Montenegro
142	Rwanda
143	Ecuador
144	Malawi
145	Mali
146
147	San Marino
148	Burkina Faso
149	Suriname
150	El Salvador
151	Haiti
152	Grenada
153	Mauritania
154	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
155	Guatemala
156	Honduras
157	Solomon Islands
158		^[38]
159
160	Sierra Leone
161
162	Samoa
163	Togo
164	Djibouti
165	Monaco
166	Andorra	^[39]
167	Dominica
168	Burundi
169	Gambia
170	Nicaragua
171	Saint Lucia
172	Barbados
173	Liechtenstein
174	Gabon
175	Saint Kitts and Nevis
176

Countries to establish relations:

• Chad^[40]

Bilateral relations

Africa

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Kenya	1970	See Kenya–Sri Lanka relations
South Africa	16 September 1994	See South Africa–Sri Lanka relations

Americas

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Cuba	29 July 1959	See Cuba–Sri Lanka relations
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.^[41] Sri Lanka is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States and maintains an honorary consulate in Mexico City.^[42]
United States	23 October 1948	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. Sri Lankan Embassy is located in Washington, D.C.

Asia

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Armenia	12 February 1992	See Foreign relations of Armenia Armenia is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi, India.^[43] Sri Lanka is accredited to Armenia from its embassy in Moscow, Russia.
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.
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	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.^[44] Bhutan has an honorary consulate in Colombo.
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 SecurityCouncil.^[46]
Indonesia	6 August 1952	See Indonesia–Sri Lanka relations Indonesia has an embassy in Colombo. Sri Lanka has an embassy in Jakarta.
	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 Sri Lanka has an embassy in Baghdad^[50] Iraq has an embassy in Colombo.^[51] 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
	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.^[59] There is an embassy for the state of Palestine in Colombo.^[60]
Philippines	17 April 1958
	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 Since 2012, Sri Lanka has an embassy in Ankara.^[62] Since 2013, Turkey has an embassy in Colombo.

Europe

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Croatia	14 February 1997	Foreign relations of Croatia Sri Lanka recognized Croatia on 27 May 1992.^[63] Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 February 1997. Both countries have agreed on bilateral treaties in various fields.^[64]
Cyprus	March 1981	Cyprus is accredited to Sri Lanka by its High Commission in New Delhi, India^[65] and an honorary consulate in Colombo. Sri Lanka is accredited to Cyprus from its embassy in Rome, Italy^[66] and an honorary consulate in Larnaca. Both countries have agreed on bilateral treaties in various fields.^[67] Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
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.^[68] The Czech Republic has a consulate in Colombo.^[69] In 2000 Czech Republic provided RM-70 multiple rocket launchers for Sri Lanka Army.^[70]
Denmark	5 January 1953	See Denmark–Sri Lanka relations
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.
Germany	9 December 1953	See Germany–Sri Lanka relations
Greece	1957	Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1957.^[71] Greece is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi, India.^[72] Sri Lanka is accredited to Greece from its embassy in Rome, Italy.
	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.
Hungary	15 February 1959	See Hungary–Sri Lanka relations Sri Lanka has an embassy in Vienna, Austria that is accredited to Hungary.^[73] and has a consul in Budapest^[74] Hungary maintains a consulate in Colombo.^[75] 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.^[76]
Italy		Both countries established diplomatic relations.
	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. Poland is accredited to Sri Lanka from its embassy in New Delhi, India. Sri Lanka has an embassy in Warsaw.
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. 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 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]
	19 February 1957	See Russia–Sri Lanka relations 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.
Serbia	14 October 1957	Both countries have established diplomatic relations in 1956.^[90] A number of bilateral agreements in various fields have been concluded and are in force between both countries.^[91]
Spain	10 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.
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. Sri Lanka maintains a high commission in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Sri Lanka through its high commission in Colombo.^[92] 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]

Oceania

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
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.
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 & Forestry Minister Jayaratne, May 1996 ^[94]

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka
• List of diplomatic missions of Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka and the Non-Aligned Movement

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

External links

• Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka
• Fallacy and the Reality of IMF Standby Arrangement for Sri Lanka by The Sunday Times

Notes and References

1. Patrick Peebles, The History of Sri Lanka (Greenwood, 2005), p. 118.
2. Web site: Diplomatic relations . 10 July 2022 .
3. News: 5 July 2017 . Sri Lanka and Turkey Relations: A Flourishing Partnership in Asia . 3 July 2023.
4. Web site: 4 May 2023 . Buddha Rashmi, Vesak Festival 2023 coincides with 75 years of diplomatic relations & friendly ties . The High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka . 20 November 2024.
5. News: 11 October 2023 . India, Sri Lanka launch logo celebrating 75 Years of diplomatic ties . . 20 November 2024.
6. Web site: 27 April 2022 . Happy Anniversary! Japan and Sri Lanka established formal diplomatic relations 70 years ago today! . Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka on Facebook . 5 August 2024.
7. Book: 1956 Ferguson's Ceylon Directory . 1956 . 31.
8. Book: 1959 Ferguson's Ceylon Directory . 1959 . 243.
9. Web site: Bilateral cooperation . 24 December 2021 . Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia.
10. Book: Ferguson's Ceylon Directory . 1959 . 209.
11. Book: Hungary . Pannonia Press . 1969 . 74.
12. Web site: Todos los países . 16 September 2023 . pt.
13. Book: Yitzhak Oron . Middle East Record Volume 2, 1961 Volume 2 . Israel Oriental Society, The Reuven Shiloah Research Center . 1961 . 294.
14. Book: 1963 Ferguson's Ceylon Directory . The Ceylon Observer Press . 1963 . 105 . 167.
15. Web site: 5 January 1962 . (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 . es.
16. News: 16 June 2014 . Sri Lanka ve buen momento para relación con la región . es . 8 June 2023.
17. Book: Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts - Issues 126-130 - Page 5 . United States. Central Intelligence Agency 1965.
18. Book: Africa Research Bulletin . Blackwell . 1973 . 2834.
19. Book: Summary of World Broadcasts: Far East - Part 3 - Page A-42 . British Broadcasting Corporation. Monitoring Service . 1974.
20. Web site: RELACIONES DIPLOMÁTICAS DE LA REPÚBLICA DE PANAMÁ . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200806131148/https://mire.gob.pa/sites/default/files/documentos/Trasnsparencia/gestion-anual-2011-2012.pdf . 6 August 2020 . 30 November 2021 . 195.
21. Book: Asian Almanac . V.T. Sambandan . 1977 . 15 . 8511.
22. Book: Translations on South and East Asia . 27 April 1978 . Joint Publications Research Service . 765–771 . 60.
23. Web site: Ежегодник Большой Советской Энциклопедии. 1980. Выпуск двадцать четвертый: Зарубежные страны . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20230623051408/https://istmat.org/files/uploads/36004/6_zarubezhnye_strany.pdf . 23 June 2023 . 29 February 2024 . 270 . ru.
24. Web site: 5 March 1980 . FBIS Daily Report--Western Europe: Diplomatic Relations Established with Sri Lanka . 22 August 2024 . United States Foreign Broadcast Information Service.
25. Book: South and East Asia Report No. 1087 . 13 January 1982 . United States Joint Publications Research Service . 61 . 3 February 2024.
26. Book: 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 . 156.
27. Book: Summary of World Broadcasts: Far East . . 1984 . 3 . A-9.
28. Web site: Diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and ... . 10 July 2022.
29. News: 22 April 2021 . Sri Lanka has consistently supported to safeguard the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people - Hon. Speaker . 6 April 2024.
30. Web site: Order of Precedence of Heads of Diplomatic Missions Accredited to Sri Lanka and Dates of Presentation of Credentials . 24 September 2023 . Ferguson's Sri Lanka Directory 1992-93 125th Edition . 117.
31. Web site: Order of Precedence of Heads Diplomatic Missions Accredited to Sri Lanka and Dates of Presentation of Credentials . 24 September 2023 . Ferguson's Sri Lanka Directory 1992-93 125th Edition . 117.
32. Web site: Order of Precedence of Heads of Diplomatic Missions Accredited to Sri Lanka and Dates of Presentation of Credentials . 24 September 2023 . Ferguson's SRI LANKA DIRECTORY 1992-93 125th Edition . 118.
33. Web site: 02 The list of countries established diplomatic relations with Republic of Kazakhstan . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101231164448/http://portal.mfa.kz/portal/page/portal/mfa/en/content/policy/legal_basis/listcountries . 31 December 2010 . 29 April 2022.
34. Web site: Štáty podľa svetadielov . 18 March 2022 . sk . 8 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220308082112/https://www.mzv.sk/cestovanie_a_konzularne_info/staty_sveta-staty_podla_svetadielov?value=26710 . dead .
35. Web site: History of the High Commission . 4 July 2023.
36. News: 17 July 2024 . Sri Lanka engages Liberia for furthering economic ties . . 20 November 2024.
37. News: 20 July 2010 . New Sri Lanka envoy to Mauritius presents credentials . 21 July 2023.
38. Web site: August 14, 2013 . Six new foreign envoys present credentials . 24 September 2023 . infolanka.com.
39. Web site: Diplomatic relations . 3 July 2021 . Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Andorra.
40. Web site: Sri Lanka to establish diplomatic ties with Chad-Xinhua .
41. Web site: Inicio Home. 2021-11-15. embamex.sre.gob.mx.
42. Web site: Home. 2021-11-15. slembassyusa.org. 19 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230619033326/https://slembassyusa.org/new/. dead.
43. Web site: Bilateral Relations . https://web.archive.org/web/20171227231226/http://www.mfa.am/en/country-by-country/lk/ . 2017-12-27.
44. Web site: Topic: News in Bhutan other than Dzongkha and English.. KuenselOnline. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20110610234450/http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=10116. 10 June 2011. dead.
45. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/735963.stm India's Sri Lankan scars
46. http://mea.gov.in/foreignrelation/srilanka.htm Brief on India-Sri Lanka Relations
47. http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/08/05/news11.asp Sri Lanka – Iran Bilateral Relations
48. http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15241&Itemid=52 The Group of 15 (G- 15)
49. http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/02/20/news31.asp Sri Lanka, Iran mutual friends – Minister
50. Web site: Embassy of Sri Lanka in Iraq. 2021-11-15. www.slembirq.org.
51. Web site: Iraqi Embassy to Sri Lanka-Colombo . 10 April 2019 . 10 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190410152511/http://mofamission.gov.iq/en/SriLank . dead .
52. Web site: Iraq emerges to be the No. 1 buyer of Sri Lankan Tea in 2018 | History of Ceylon Tea.
53. Web site: Israeli agriculture minister visits Sri Lanka. https://web.archive.org/web/20120405103500/http://www.jdslanka.org/2011/05/israeli-agriculture-minister-visits-sri.html. dead. 5 April 2012.
54. Web site: Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka . 18 July 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090721233937/http://www.lk.emb-japan.go.jp/Index.html . 21 July 2009 . dmy-all.
55. Web site: Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20051018040109/http://www.lankaembassy.jp/ . dead . 18 October 2005 . 18 July 2009.
56. Web site: Official Website of High Commission of Malaysia, Colombo. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. 27 January 2014.
57. Web site: Sri Lanka High Commission, Kuala Lumpur. High Commission of Sri Lanka in Malaysia. 27 January 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140126043640/http://www.slhc.com.my/index.php. 26 January 2014.
58. Web site: Sri Lanka to send emergency relief to Nepal. 25 April 2015.
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