- Sri Lanka is a country that maintains close ties with the United Arab Emirates, the friendship between the two countries dating back to many years.
- Diplomatic relations between the two countries was established in July 1979 with the opening of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi, and that was after the visit by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of UAE, may God show mercy upon him, to Sri Lanka to participate in the Non-Aligned Summit in 1976 in Colombo.
- Since then, bilateral relations between the two countries significantly evolved to become a friendly and privileged relationship, with the exchange of high-level visits in addition to the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding which led to the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
- Last year, 2019, marked the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka. The first Sri Lankan Ambassador to UAE was appointed in 1983 and the Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi was established, followed by the opening of the Sri Lankan Consulate in Dubai in 1993 which subsequently became the Consulate General in 1999.
- UAE opened its embassy in Sri Lanka in 1999 and thereafter diplomatic representation at the ambassadorial level continued in both countries. This contributed towards further enhancing relations and strengthening cooperation and also to take supportive attitudes towards the other, at local, regional and global levels.
- UAE has stood by Sri Lanka positively during all important issues faced by Sri Lanka, such as the conflict with the LTTE, which the United Nations designated as a terrorist movement. During the tsunami, UAE provided emergency aid as well as various forms of assistance to overcome the economic situation in the country.
Highlights:
- Bilateral Relations established in 1979.
- Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi was opened on 19th July, 1979.
- Sri Lankan Consulate in Dubai opened in August, 1993.
- Elevated to General Consulate in 1999.
- UAE Embassy in Colombo established on 05th April, 1999.
- Joint Commission between UAE and Sri Lanka established in January, 2013.
- First UAE Consulate and Visa Center established in Colombo on 01st June, 2014, and officially declared open on 06th October, 2014.
- Over the past years, there has been an increase in ministerial and official visits between the two countries. His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, made an official visit to Sri Lanka on 18th November, 2017. During this visit he was able to meet with the President, Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka and discuss matters of mutual interest to the two countries.
- In November 2019 Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha visited UAE to attend the 19th Council of Ministers’ Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) held in Abu Dhabi.
- In January 2017, Sri Lanka hosted the Senior Officials’ Meeting and Fourth Ministerial Consultation of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) among the Asian Labour Sending and Receiving Countries in Colombo.
- In January 2020, His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, accepted the invitation extended by H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to visit the UAE.
- Bilateral cooperation has led to the support of mutual nominations for both countries in international organizations and forums. Sri Lanka supported UAE’s bid to host the permanent headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi and also ratified the Statute of the Agency on January 3, 2011. The Sri Lankan authorities also supported the hosting of EXPO 2020 in Dubai. Similarly, UAE too has always stood by Sri Lanka during the periodical reviews of human rights reports at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, a position that the Sri Lankan government greatly values and appreciates.
- There is cooperation and support between the two countries in environmental issues because of Sri Lanka’s interest in projects for the disposal of solid waste and forest conservation. There is also cooperation between the two sides in the field of civil aviation with an increasing number of flights due to the large number of travelers between the two countries. Currently, there are more than 100 flights a week, 90 of them being made by UAE national carriers.
UAE and Sri Lanka have signed a number of Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding:
- Air Transport Agreement, signed in the year 2000.
- Postal Agreement, between UAE Post and the Postal Department of Sri Lanka signed in 2002.
- Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation, in 2003.
- Agreement on setting up of Joint Commission, signed in Abu Dhabi in 2013.
- Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, in 2014.
- Agreement on Extradition, in 2014.
- Agreement on Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Customs Affairs, in 2017.
- MoU on the establishment of a Joint Committee for Consular Affairs, in 2017.
- MoU on strengthening Best Practices in the field of Manpower, in 2018.
Among other agreements regarding which negotiations are currently underway:
- Agreement for the Protection and Promotion of Investment.
- Agreement on Security Cooperation.
- MoU on Cooperation in the fields of Education and Scientific Research.
- MoU for the establishment of a Joint Business Council.
