Sri Lanka and Belgium held their inaugural round of political consultations in Brussels on Tuesday, marking a milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries.

The consultations were conducted under an agreement signed in December 2017 to establish a formal mechanism for political dialogue. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, director-general of the Europe and North America Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.

The Belgian delegation was led by Birgit Stevens, director-general for Bilateral Affairs of the Asia and Oceania Division.

Officials undertook a comprehensive review of bilateral ties, including political engagement, high-level visits, trade, investment and tourism. Discussions also covered defense and maritime security cooperation, scientific and cultural exchanges, disaster prevention and climate resilience, green transition initiatives and collaboration in multilateral forums.

Both sides discussed preparations to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2028.

Sri Lanka reiterated its interest in strengthening economic cooperation, with a focus on trade, tourism and investment in green energy, pharmaceuticals, information and communications technology, ports and logistics.

The delegations also reviewed cooperation within the European Union, including Sri Lanka’s engagement under the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), debt restructuring efforts and economic reforms undertaken with guidance from the International Monetary Fund.

Belgium welcomed Sri Lanka’s efforts toward economic recovery and institutional reform. Sri Lanka expressed appreciation for Belgium’s support within the European Union and other international platforms and sought Belgian support for rebuilding efforts following Cyclone Ditwah.

Sri Lanka briefed the Belgian side on measures to enhance good governance, advance national reconciliation and uphold the rule of law. Regional and global developments were also discussed, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to multilateralism, the United Nations Charter and international law.

The consultations highlighted shared priorities in climate action, ocean governance and maritime security. Both sides also discussed potential reciprocal support for candidacies within the United Nations system.

The Sri Lankan delegation included Chandana Weerasena, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, and senior officials from the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brussels.

The Belgian delegation included William Asselborn, director for the Asia and Oceania Department, and senior officials from the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lankan Embassy in Belgium, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, has participated in the ‘Amazing Asia Festival 2025’ for the second time. 

According to the Sri Lankan Embassy, the event, which attracted more than 12,000 visitors, was held from 15-17 August at the prestigious ‘Tour & Taxis’ in Brussels.

The Sri Lankan pavilion highlighted the island’s distinctive value proposition in the global tourism map, emphasizing its authenticity, diversity, and compactness. It featured vibrant tourism banners, engaging audiovisual presentations, brochures, maps, and handicrafts, complemented by a display of products from Sri Lanka’s small and medium-scale industries. The Embassy staff constantly engaged with the visitors to the pavilion for three long days to convince Sri Lanka’s position in the global tourism map and served them with world-renowned Ceylon tea.

Thavishya Mullegamgoda, the Minister (Commercial) of the Embassy, presented informative sessions providing visitors with deeper insights into Sri Lanka’s traditional and new tourism offerings at the dedicated presentation corner during the festival. 

The pavilion attracted strong interest from a diverse audience, including many visitors who have Sri Lanka on their travel bucket list, as well as repeat travellers. Those who had previously visited the island shared their positive experiences and expressed a keen interest in returning to explore new destinations in Sri Lanka. The stall further captured the attention of a wide range of prospective travellers, including families, long-haul holidaymakers, cultural and nature enthusiasts, and adventure seekers.

The Amazing Asia festival provided an excellent platform to strengthen Sri Lanka’s visibility not only in Brussels but also across wider regions of Belgium. As Brussels is a multicultural hub and home to key European Union institutions, the festival drew a highly international audience, including expatriates and residents representing many nationalities. The event also achieved notable digital reach, with active engagement on social media channels, further extending Sri Lanka’s promotional impact. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lankan Embassy in Brussels has highlighted Sri Lanka as one of the best ethical and sustainable sourcing destinations in the world, while participating in the European Parliament ‘Fair-Trade Breakfast-2024’ recently (13 Nov).

According to the Embassy, the event was organized by the ‘Fair Trade Advocacy’ Office in Belgium and hosted by the European Parliament’s ‘Fair Trade Working Group’ and its Chair, Bernd Lange, a Member of the European Parliament. 

The Embassy, with the support of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) participated in the event as a special guest. A cross-section of fair trade products manufactured by several Sri Lankan Faire-trade certified companies was showcased at the event, including tea, spices, coconut-based products and toys.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Belgium, Chandana Weerasena addressed the gathering and provided a brief introduction to the background of the diverse range of fair trade products in Sri Lanka, current developments and challenges in the fair trade sector. Further, on behalf of Sri Lankan stakeholders, the Ambassador pointed out key areas that Sri Lanka need support from relevant EU institutions and international fair trade organizations.

Managing Director at the Fair Trade Advocacy Office, Jorge Conesa de Lara highlighted that securing fair trade structures based on mutually beneficial collaborations with producers, farming communities and partner countries must be central to the process when entering legislation to advance sustainable development.

A young producer from the Offinso Fine Flavour Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Society Limited, Juliana Asiedu highlighted the urgent need to support farmers to adapt to climate change, urging policymakers to place farming communities at the heart of decision-making. Founder of the fair trade verified jewellery brand, SeeMe, Caterina Occhio whose extensive work in promoting gender equality through ethical and fair trade practices demonstrated how these efforts not only contribute to global justice but also transform the lives of producers.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, and Co-chair of IPES-Food Olivier De Schutter was also among the distinguished guests in attendance. Further, several MEPs from the European Parliament, several members from International and European Fair-Trade Networks, Civil Society Organizations, and other Missions to the European Union also joined the event. (Newswire)

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The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels has conducted a virtual programme for the Sri Lankan Apparel Industry providing insights into the European Union’s strategy for sustainable and circular textiles.

Issuing a statement, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels said the online briefing session was conducted in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) on July 20, 2023. 

According to the Embassy, the event aimed to enlighten stakeholders within Sri Lanka’s apparel industry about the European Union’s progressive approach towards sustainable and circular textiles. The briefing session was conducted by a senior expert, Mikael Garellick, at the Textile Unit of the Directorate General of the International Market of the European Commission.

The virtual event brought together key players from Sri Lanka’s apparel sector, including the Sri Lanka Joint Apparel Association Forum (SLJAAF), government representatives, and industry experts, to foster meaningful discussions about the future of textiles in the context of environmental sustainability.

The EU Strategy on Sustainable and Circular Textiles, introduced by the European Commission, is a crucial initiative to promote sustainability in the fashion and textile industries. It encourages eco-friendly practices and aims to reduce the environmental footprint of textiles throughout their lifecycle. Given that the EU is a significant trading partner for Sri Lanka’s textile exports, understanding and aligning with this strategy holds great significance for the country’s apparel sector.

During the briefing session, Mikael Garellick from the European Commission provided in-depth insights into the EU’s approach to sustainable and circular textiles. He highlighted the policies, standards, and potential collaborations that can aid Sri Lanka’s apparel industry in its pursuit of eco-friendly and sustainable practices. Participants had the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session, discussing specific challenges and opportunities relevant to the industry’s transformation to sustainable practices.

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Belgium and the European Union, Grace Asirwatham, emphasized the paramount importance of Sri Lanka’s apparel industry’s transformation to sustainable practices, aligning it with the EU Strategy on Sustainable and Circular Textiles to harness significant market benefits in the EU in the future.

Acting Director General of the EDB, Malani Baddegama, explained that Sri Lanka’s major export to the EU is apparel items and the benefits that it enjoys under the GSP Plus scheme. She further acknowledged the significance of such briefings and thanked the European Commission official for the insightful briefing. (NewsWire)

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