Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath led the Sri Lanka delegation to the ‘33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Commemorative activity of the 50th Anniversary of Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia held from 23rd – 24th July 2026 in Manila, Philippines.
Addressing the ARF Ministerial Meeting, Minister Herath reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to the core priorities of the ARF, particularly promoting peace, regional stability, and inclusive economic prosperity. He also expressed Sri Lanka’s willingness to engage more closely with the member states in ARF led activities including the area of peacekeeping initiatives.
Minister Herath also attended the Commemorative Event to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia held in Manila on the theme, “enhancing cooperation in addressing emerging threats and challenges”. In his statement at the meeting, Minister Herath reiterated the importance of close collaboration among all member states to the Treaty in collectively addressing evolving global challenges.
On the sidelines of the ARF Ministerial Meeting, Minister Herath held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Bangladesh, Chile, Canada, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Netherlands, Russia and Singapore. He also met the US special Envoy for South and Central Asia and the US Ambassador to India, the Secretary - General of ASEAN, High Representative of the European Union and the Vice President of the Asian Development Bank.
As part of the official engagements in the ARF programme, Minister Herath attended a dinner reception hosted by the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Minister Herath travelled to Mindanao Island as well where he ceremonially inaugurated the Office of the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Mindanao. The Minister also visited the construction site of Sri Lanka’s first investment in the Philippines, ‘Haycarb’’ located in Mindanao.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Philippines Dr. Chanaka Thalpahewa and the Director General of Southeast Asia & Central Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Chamari Rodrigo, accompanied Minister Herath as members of the delegation.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism
Colombo
28 July 2026
