Sri Lanka and Lithuania convened their Inaugural Bilateral Political Consultations 05th October 2026 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism in Colombo, making a major milestone in diplomatic relations as both nations prepare to commemorate 30 years of formal ties this year.
High-level discussions were co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arun Hemachandra, alongside his Lithuanian counterpart, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vidmantas Verbickas.
The meeting provided an institutional platform to review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, to explore untapped trade and investment opportunities, and to exchange views on pressing regional and global developments.
During the deliberations, Deputy Minister Hemachandra highlighted Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic stabilization and key structural reforms, underscoring the country's posture as an emerging trade and logistics hub in the Indian Ocean closer to the international maritime route. He invited Lithuanian investors to leverage opportunities within Sri Lanka’s expanding renewable energy, logistics, tourism, and digital technology sectors. Vice-Minister of Lithuania underscored Lithuania’s leadership in high-tech innovation, particularly in Financial Technologies (FinTech), cyber security, life sciences, photonics, and laser technology. Both delegations agreed to fast-track cooperation initiatives that facilitate direct business-to-business (B2B) engagements and knowledge exchange between tech incubators and export promotion agencies of both countries.
The two sides further underscored the potential to grow bilateral trade through the European Union’s GSP+ scheme and agreed to initiate discussions on key bilateral agreements to streamline trade, investments, technology, higher education, research and cultural relations.
The discussion also focused on facilitating university exchanges, technical training partnerships, and student mobility programmes; and enhancing promotional activities to boost tourist arrivals from the Baltic region. Both parties reaffirmed mutual commitments to global peace, international law, climate action, and to uphold multilateralism as well as cooperation in the United Nations.
The Inaugural Political Consultations concluded with both delegations reaffirming their shared determination to elevate bilateral cooperation into a dynamic and mutually beneficial partnership. It was agreed that the second round of political consultations will be hosted in Vilnius, Lithuania, at a mutually convenient date in 2027.
On the sidelines of the Inaugural Political Consultations, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed and exchanged by Aruni Ranaraja, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka and Vidmantas Verbickas, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. This newly established mechanism provides a structured framework for regular bilateral dialogue between the two nations.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism
Colombo 01
13 October 2026
