The Second Round of political consultations between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands took place in The Hague, on Wednesday (29), during which both countries reaffirmed their commitment to the bilateral relationship and reviewed the full spectrum of the ongoing cooperation.
The Dutch delegation was led by the Director of the Asia and Oceania Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Dominique Kuhling, while the Sri Lankan delegation was led by the Director-General of the Europe & North America Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sugeeshwara Gunaratna.
According to the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, the meeting was held in a spirit of the longstanding friendship, mutual respect and cooperation, and shared values. Whilst reaffirming the commitment to the bilateral relationship, both delegations reviewed the full spectrum of the ongoing cooperation and emphasized the need for a renewed focus, amongst others, on maritime and cultural cooperation, as both countries look ahead to celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2026. Both sides discussed ways and means of marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in a fitting manner.
The two delegations welcomed the ongoing cultural collaboration as a cornerstone of the relationship. The Sri Lanka side appreciated the commitment of the Netherlands to addressing historical legacies through the respectful return of items of cultural heritage. The ongoing Dutch-Sri Lanka collaboration between the National Archives of the Netherlands and the National Archives of Sri Lanka to conserve, restore, and digitize the archives currently deposited at the Sri Lanka Archives was welcomed by both sides.
The two sides reviewed the current level of trade, investment, and tourism ties between the two countries and explored new opportunities for economic cooperation emphasizing the need to explore greater collaboration between the relevant trade chambers. The Sri Lankan side noted that currently, the Netherlands is among the top 10 source markets for tourism and outlined the attractions Sri Lanka offers as a tourist destination, as well as the opportunities available for investment in tourism infrastructure.
Discussions emphasized the importance of collaboration in areas such as port development and maritime safety, highlighting the long-term technical and commercial partnerships that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority has maintained with Dutch institutions.
The two sides also discussed regional and international developments and cooperation at multilateral institutions, as well as possible support for each other’s candidacies within the United Nations system. Further, both sides underscored their commitment to maintaining regional stability and maritime security through, amongst others, initiatives such as BIMSTEC and IORA.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of continued dialogue between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, including periodical consultations. Both sides agreed to convene the next meeting at a mutually convenient time to assess progress and further strengthen the partnership.
The Sri Lanka delegation comprised Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Netherlands, Rekha Gunasekera, Director-General of the National Archives of Sri Lanka, Dr.Nadeera Rupesinghe, First Secretary of the Sri Lanka Embassy in The Hague, Sashiprabha Wijeratne, and Assistant Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism of Sri Lanka, Kaumadie Wijesinghe.
The Netherlands delegation comprised the Policy Coordinator for Cultural Development of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, two Sri Lanka Desk Officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and a Consular Officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. (Newswire)