Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath arrived in the Philippines today (22) to participate in the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the commemorative event marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia.

In a post on ‘X’, he said the visit reaffirms Sri Lanka’s commitment to deepening constructive engagement with ARF and ASEAN member states.

On the sidelines of the ARF meetings, Minister Herath is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with counterparts from participating countries, further strengthening Sri Lanka’s regional and international partnerships. (Newswire)

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Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to the core priorities of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), particularly promoting peace, regional stability, and inclusive economic prosperity. 

According to a Foreign Ministry statement, the commitment was made during Minister Herath’s participation in the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held on Friday (11) in Malaysia. 

At the meeting, Minister Herath also expressed Sri Lanka’s willingness to engage more closely with the ARF member states in the area of peacekeeping initiatives during the 2025–2026 term. 

As part of his official engagements, Minister Herath paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Dr. Anwar bin Ibrahim, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya on Thursday (10).

A productive discussion on matters of mutual interest was held, aimed at strengthening the longstanding bilateral partnership between Sri Lanka and Malaysia. In particular, the implementation of visa-free travel for Sri Lankan nationals and the allocation of 10,000 job quotas for Sri Lankan workers in various sectors across Malaysia were discussed. During the meeting, the Prime Minister advised the officials from the Ministry of Human Resources and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia to work out modalities, in consultation with the Sri Lanka side, to further strengthen cooperation in labour-related matters. 

Minister Herath also met with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Human Resources of Malaysia, the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia and senior officials, and discussed operationalising the proposed employment quota for Sri Lankan workers and visa-free arrangements. 

It was agreed that the first working group related to employment for Sri Lankan workers will be established in the last quarter of 2025, while the visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders will be expedited, and the reciprocal visa-free arrangement for ordinary passport holders will be considered thereafter. 

Minister Herath also delivered the keynote address at the “Sri Lanka Investor, Trade & Tourism Forum 2025”, organised by the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Kuala Lumpur on Friday (11). The event brought together over 60 key Malaysian investors, representatives from leading chambers of commerce, and travel trade. The Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade & Industry of Malaysia and His Highness Tunku Maha Kuniyan Diraja Tunku Saifan, a member of the Royal Family of Selangor, also graced the occasion. 

On Saturday (12), Minister Herath paid a courtesy call on Tun Seri Setia Dr. Haji Mohd Ali Bin Mohd Rustam, Governor of the State of Malacca, at the Istana in Malacca. The two dignitaries held fruitful discussions on enhancing tourism cooperation between Sri Lanka and the State of Malacca. Minister Herath also visited the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Malacca City. 

On the sidelines of the ARF, Minister Herath held several meetings with his counterparts from Australia, Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia and Thailand, as well as with the First Vice Minister of South Korea, to strengthen Sri Lanka’s bilateral ties and regional collaboration. 

At a meeting held with the Under Secretary of State of the United States, Allison Hooker, Minister Herath highlighted, in particular, the importance of further negotiations on the reduction of tariffs, considering the impact on Sri Lankan exports, particularly apparel. 

Mrs. Chamari Rodrigo, Director General of the Southeast Asia and Central Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and Mr. M.I. Mohamed Rizvi, Sri Lanka’s Acting High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur, accompanied the Minister during the visit. (Newswire)

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Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has engaged in discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting underway in Malaysia. 

According to a Foreign Ministry statement, the two state officials yesterday discussed pressing issues on Lankan–Russian relations and collaboration on international platforms.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov expressed his gratitude for Sri Lanka’s communication sent in October of last year, which articulated Sri Lanka’s interest in closer alignment with BRICS. He said Russia welcomes this step and stands ready to support a consensus on the matter unequivocally.

Minister Lavrov further noted that Sri Lanka has long been a trusted partner of Russia in South Asia. He acknowledged the deep and positive historical trajectory of bilateral relations and expressed a commitment to advancing the relationship further as a model for future collaboration.

Responding, Minister Vijitha Herath thanked the Russian Federation for its longstanding friendship and consistent support for Sri Lanka, especially during critical times of need. He appreciated Russia’s historical ties with Sri Lanka and affirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to deepening cooperation across multiple sectors. (Newswire)

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vijitha Herath, will participate in the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in Malaysia this week.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister has already arrived in Malaysia to attend the event being held from 8–11 July 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the minister’s participation is part of Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with regional partners under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025. 

The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening diplomatic, economic, and multilateral cooperation with ASEAN member states.

Foreign Ministers and senior officials from across the region are attending the sessions, which aim to address key regional priorities and foster greater collaboration across Southeast Asia. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet has approved for the government to submit a new work/action plan with a clear time framework to obtain the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) Sectoral Dialogue Partnership (SDP) as an external party. 

According to the government, ASEAN is a political and economic association made up of 10 Southeast Asian countries and includes several of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with these countries contributing about 6.5% of the global domestic product. 

Even though Sri Lanka is maintaining diplomatic relations with all the ASEAN countries at present, the government says it has identified that a strong relationship is essential with ASEAN countries for partnership and economic progress. 

Although non-Southeast Asian countries cannot take membership in this association, the ASEAN can offer external countries the condition of “Sectoral Dialogue Partner” based on their ability to contribute to the objectives of ASEAN.

Even though Sri Lanka had submitted a letter of intent to the ASEAN Secretariat for the Sectoral Dialogue Partnership and a proposal for the achievement of objectives of ASEAN in the year 2019, no further action had been taken in that respect, the government said. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to submit a new work/action plan with a clear time framework relevant to the letter of intent submitted in 2019, following the procedure provided by the ASEAN to obtain the condition of ASEAN “Sectoral Dialogue Partner” for an external party. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka has called for the ASEAN region to take decisive action against cybercrime centres and employment rackets in the region, during a meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Laos.

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya addressing the 31st Ministerial Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum called for the Asia Pacific region to concertedly address emerging challenges including security-related aspects of new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

In addition to sustaining the Asia-Pacific region’s efforts to promote peace, security, and cooperation, the Forum must address challenges to cyber and network security systems and tackle transnational organized crime, Balasuriya said. 

This year’s ARF Ministerial meeting attended by 27 ARF members, was chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith of Lao PDR, which holds the ASEAN Chairmanship.

Speaking further at the meeting, State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya outlined Sri Lanka’s historical ties with ASEAN countries and the active role in the work of the organization particularly as Co-Chair of several intersessional processes in the areas of disaster relief, non-proliferation and disarmament. 

He proposed that ARF also initiate climate justice programs, establish stronger regional mechanisms for disaster relief and response as well as collaborate more intensely to address climate and environmental challenges. 

Minister Balasuriya also expressed Sri Lanka’s concerns relating to the humanitarian impact of the conflicts in the Middle East as well as in Russia – Ukraine and highlighted the negative consequences on the region and the global economy. (Newswire)

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced plans to initiate negotiations for the establishment of free trade agreements with corresponding ASEAN member countries.

The President revealed that Sri Lanka’s intention to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is poised to materialize following the conclusion of credit optimization initiatives. 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks while addressing the 56th anniversary of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) held at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Colombo on Tuesday (08).

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), President Wickremesinghe’s statement underscores the country’s determination to bolster its economic connectivity within the broader Asian region. 

The President affirmed his alignment with the future vision of ASEAN for the Indo-Pacific area, pledging full support for the advancement of this strategic perspective.

These proposed collaborations highlight Sri Lanka’s commitment to fostering economic cooperation and trade linkages, which are poised to open new avenues for growth and development. The President’s statements reaffirm the nation’s readiness to engage actively in regional economic partnerships to realize its economic ambitions.

The President reflected on Sri Lanka’s economic history and the decisions that had impacted the nation’s progress. He acknowledged the efforts of former President J. R. Jayawardena, his father and other influential figures who advocated for opening up the economy and joining ASEAN during its founding years as well as the Shenoy reforms for liberalization of the economy and to ensure the welfare program stayed within the needs. The President remarked that turning down the opportunity to join ASEAN led to a period of socialist economic policies and limited capital formations, hindering the country’s growth potential.

Explaining the circumstance that converted a source of profound regret, he said subsequently, over a span of three years, Sri Lanka transitioned into a socialist economic model, leading to the fragmentation of the capital formations, and has continued to progress in this trajectory. “However, we find ourselves not entirely emancipated from the constraints imposed by that economic paradigm. At present, despite being positioned as one of the world’s major economies, poised to potentially ascend to the ranks of the fifth or fourth-largest expanding economies, we now confront the disheartening reality of shaking on the brink of bankruptcy after 55 years of existence.”

President Ranil Wickremesinghe praised the association’s remarkable growth and success as one of the world’s largest economic blocks. The President also expressed regret that Sri Lanka had declined an invitation to join ASEAN in its early years, citing missed opportunities for economic prosperity. However, he highlighted a new policy approach to collaborate closely with ASEAN to enhance Sri Lanka’s position in the global arena.

In light of Sri Lanka’s recent financial challenges and the need for rejuvenation, President Wickremesinghe expressed a renewed commitment to pursue closer ties with ASEAN. He acknowledged the strong cultural and historical connections between Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka, underscoring the importance of building on these relations to drive economic and political cooperation.

“Amid the looming threat of bankruptcy, Sri Lanka has embraced the challenge head-on, aiming to move forward with inspiration drawn from proactive problem-solving approaches. This involves looking at the accomplishments of the ASEAN and enhancing collaboration with the organization. This strategic approach is firmly rooted in the government’s policies. This approach, championed by the current administration, is expected to resonate with other governments as well. The nation’s enduring connections with Southeast Asia stand as evidence of its strong regional ties, perhaps only second to its affiliations with India and Maldives. Cultural bonds are exemplified through shared practices like Mahavihara Buddhism in countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, and historical links like that between the Srivijaya Empire and Sri Lanka and Anuradhapura further reinforce these ties.

Numerous historical interconnections further validate these relationships, including interactions with Malays and historical associations with the Srivijaya Empire. Even shared colonial history, notably during the Dutch Empire’s reign in places like Batavia (present-day Jakarta, Indonesia), adds another layer of commonality. This collective historical backdrop lays the groundwork for nurturing cultural, economic, and political relations.

Consequently, as Sri Lanka faces impending financial challenges, it is actively strengthening its bonds with ASEAN nations. These alliances are poised to facilitate the pursuit of shared interests and the fostering of regional cooperation. In the pursuit of progress, Sri Lanka seeks not only to capitalize on its robust ties with Southeast Asia but also to build upon them for a mutually prosperous future,” he said.

Pointing out that one of the key aspects of the new policy is the initiation of free trade agreements with ASEAN countries, President Wickremesinghe revealed that Sri Lanka has already forged a crucial trade agreement with Singapore and is actively negotiating with Thailand. The President also announced that Sri Lanka has applied to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), recognizing the potential of this vast trade block comprising major economies like China, Japan, and Korea. He emphasized that Sri Lanka’s economic focus should now turn towards the east, given the rapid development in that region.

President Wickremesinghe has urged the Minister of Foreign Affairs to facilitate regular ministerial-level meetings with ASEAN countries to address mutual concerns and discuss the way forward. He stressed the importance of upholding the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific and supporting Indonesia’s maritime fulcrum concept.

The President emphasized the need for unity and cooperation, especially in the face of challenges like climate change. Recognizing the urgency of the climate crisis, President Wickremesinghe called for joint efforts between ASEAN countries and Sri Lanka to combat climate change and explore the potential of the blue economy.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe further expressed gratitude for the invitation to the ASEAN anniversary event and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to fostering closer ties with ASEAN and reiterated that collaboration and friendship among nations would be the driving force for shared progress and prosperity in the region.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Keheliya Rambukwella, Vidura Wickramanayake, Nasir Ahmed, Jeevan Thondaman, Nalin Fernando, State Minister Taraka Balasuriya and other officials including Malaysian High Commissioner Badli Hisham Adam. , Ambassador of Thailand Poj Harnpol, Ambassador of Vietnam Ho Thi Thanh Truc, Ambassador of Myanmar Mr. U Han Thu, Senior Adviser to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, Sagala Ratnayake, and many dignitaries including the commanders of the three armed forces attended the event. (NewsWire)

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Chinese vessels and aircraft tried to snoop on the first-ever Asean-India naval exercise, which ended in the South China Sea on Monday, but the drills went ahead as planned since they did not come close to the exercising warships.

Read more: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/china-attempts-to-snoop-on-asean-india-naval-drill-in-south-china-sea/articleshow/100083108.cms

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The maiden India-Asean naval exercise concluded in the South China Sea on Monday, even as China kept a watch on the manoeuvers with its maritime milita force.

Two Indian warships which took part in the exercise are now proceeding to their next port of call towards Vietnam. Sources said that as expected, China did keep a close watch on the exercise but there was no interference and the drills took place as planned.

Sources said that as expected, China did keep a close watch on the exercise but there was no interference and the drills took place as planned.

While India has sent warships to the South China Sea in the past as well, this was the first such naval exercise with the ASEAN grouping. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar had inaugurated the exercise along with Rear Admiral Sean Wat, Chief of Navy, Republic of Singapore Navy. (Economic Times)

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