Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan Deepen Bilateral Ties Through First Foreign Ministry Consultations
July 13, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan have taken a significant step towards strengthening bilateral relations by holding the first-ever Political Consultations between their respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs in Tashkent, laying the foundation for closer diplomatic, economic and cultural cooperation.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the discussions commenced on 9 July with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), establishing a formal mechanism for regular consultations between the two foreign ministries. The agreement is expected to enhance institutional cooperation and facilitate sustained dialogue on matters of shared interest.
The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Aruni Ranaraja, while Uzbekistan was represented by First Deputy Foreign Minister Aloyev Bakhrom. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the current state of bilateral relations and explored opportunities to broaden collaboration across a range of sectors.
Foreign Secretary Ranaraja highlighted Sri Lanka’s interest in strengthening engagement with Central Asia, describing Uzbekistan as an increasingly important regional partner due to its strategic location linking Asia and Europe, its expanding economy and its growing role in regional connectivity.
Economic cooperation featured prominently during the consultations, with both delegations identifying trade, investment, logistics, tourism and education as priority areas for future collaboration. Officials agreed on the importance of diversifying bilateral trade, encouraging greater investment and creating new commercial opportunities for businesses in both countries.
Education was also identified as a key area of partnership. Recalling the longstanding academic links between the two nations, Ranaraja noted that many Sri Lankan students had pursued higher education in institutions across the former Soviet Union, including Uzbekistan, particularly in medicine and engineering. She expressed hope that academic exchanges and institutional partnerships could be revitalised to benefit a new generation of students.
Tourism cooperation also received considerable attention, with both countries welcoming the introduction of seasonal charter flights from Uzbekistan to Sri Lanka as a positive step towards increasing visitor arrivals and strengthening people-to-people ties. Sri Lanka was also invited to participate in the Tashkent International Tourism Fair, Central Asia’s largest tourism exhibition, scheduled to be held in September 2026.
On the sidelines of the consultations, the Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary held separate meetings with senior Uzbek officials responsible for investment, trade, sports, tourism and commerce. Discussions focused on expanding cooperation in sectors including apparel manufacturing, tea packaging, seafood exports, gem and jewellery, sports development and investment promotion.
The consultations concluded with both governments agreeing to hold the second round of talks in Colombo in 2027, reaffirming their commitment to maintaining regular diplomatic engagement and further strengthening bilateral relations. The Sri Lankan delegation also included Director General of the South East and Central Asia Division Chameri Rodrigo and Counsellor at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Moscow, Mihiravi Dissanayake.
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