Foreign relations of Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has one of the fastest economic growth rates in South Asia (7.2 percent GDP increase in 2007, the second fastest growing economy in South Asia after India). With South Asia's one of the modern armed forces (After India & Pakistan) and with South Asia’s second fastest growing economy by market exchange rates, Sri Lanka considered to be a strong nation in South Asia. It is Sri Lanka’s fastest growing friendly relations with China, Pakistan and India (Asia’s declared nuclear powers) gives it a more prominent voice in South Asian affairs.

Sri Lanka maintains good relationships with both Russia and United States at the same time; showing how important Sri Lanka is to the welfare of South Asia and Indian Ocean.

Sri Lanka traditionally follows a nonaligned foreign policy; Sri Lanka now seeks to strengthen its diplomatic, economic and military ties with China, Pakistan, India, Russia, United States, Japan, Malaysia, Iran 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 has friendly relations with Bangladesh and Myanmar. Though Sri Lanka continues to have a traditional military relationship with Pakistan, China has emerged as Sri Lanka's largest military partner.

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.

[edit] History

[edit] World War I (1914–1918)

[edit] World War II (1941–1945)

[edit] Civil War (1983-2009)

[edit] Present

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.

[edit] 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 allies include China, Pakistan, India, Japan, Iran and Malaysia. Sri Lanka has fostered a friendly relationship with Russia and United States. Sri Lanka’s economic and military collaboration with China has grown significantly in the past few years, while it has built upon its traditional military relations with Pakistan. Sri Lanka also enjoys friendly relations with the Middle East countries and the African Union.

[edit] 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 50% 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.

[edit] Foreign aid

Sri Lanka receiving largest foreign aid from China and Japan, China’s aid to Sri Lanka reached $1 Billion from 2007; Japan’s aid to Sri Lanka reached $800 Million from 2007. Sri Lanka also receiving foreign aid from Arab states of the Persian Gulf (GCC).

[edit] Military

Sri Lanka maintains one of the modern armed forces in South Asia, which consists of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force. Sri Lanka shares strong defense cooperation with China and Pakistan. China and Pakistan supplying modern armaments ranging from fighter jets to tanks, navel ships and missiles to Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka military maintains a closer relationship with China military and Pakistan military. Sri Lanka modernizing and expanding Sri Lanka armed forces.

[edit] Relations by country

Notes on specific relations with some countries:

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Bangladesh		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 personal to study in Bangladesh.
Bhutan	1987	See Foreign relations of Bhutan 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. Bhutan has an honorary consulate in Colombo
Hungary		See Hungary – Sri Lanka relations Sri Lanka has an embassy in Vienna, Austria that is accredited to Hungary^[1] and has a consul in Budapest^[2] Hungary maintains a consulate in Colombo, Sri Lanka.^[3] The relationship is low-keyed, but there are no outstanding issues. Hungary contributed to relief after the 2004 Tsunami, and has since stepped up aid to Sri Lanka.^[4]
India		See India – Sri Lanka relations The relation between India and Sri Lanka are generally friendly, but were controversially affected by the on-going Sri Lankan civil war and by the failure of Indian intervention during the Sri Lankan civil war. India is the most important foreign player in Sri Lanka because India is the only neighbour of Sri Lanka.
Israel		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
Japan		See Japan – Sri Lanka relations
Kosovo		Sri Lanka has declared that they will not recognise Kosovo as an independent state, and considers the unilateral declaration of independence to be a threat to world peace.^[5]
Pakistan		See Pakistan–Sri Lanka relations Sri Lanka's ties with Pakistan is warming gradually. Pakistan has been recently supplying military equipment to the Sri Lankan armed 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. Part of their friendship can be attributed to their rivalry with neighbouring India. Sri Lanka helped Pakistan war ships to harbour and refuel during the 1971 war with India. 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.
Russia		See Russia – Sri Lanka relations
United States		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.