The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to establish a Sri Lankan Embassy in Cyprus, effective from July 20, to provide diplomatic services to Sri Lankans living in the country.

According to a Foreign Ministry statement, the Government of Cyprus has granted approval for the opening of the embassy, and the delegation appointed by the ministry to commence operations at the embassy, is scheduled to depart for Cyprus on July 15.

Commenting on this development, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said the decision to reopen the Sri Lankan Embassy in Cyprus was made after considering repeated requests from Sri Lankans residing there. 

The minister further said that, following the opening of the office, services will be provided to the Sri Lankan community and steps will be taken to expand employment opportunities and promote trade and investment.

Around 15,000 Sri Lankans currently reside in Cyprus, and a few years ago, the previously active Embassy in Cyprus was closed, forcing Sri Lankans to seek diplomatic services from the embassy in Ankara, Turkey. 

With the intervention of Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, the new government is able to respond to the demands of Sri Lankans in Cyprus and initiate this diplomatic mission, the Foreign Ministry statement said. (Newswire)

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Indian drone companies are now going places. Drone Destination, one of India’s leading drone technology and training companies, will establish its European subsidiary in Cyprus, which will focus on drone development, services, training, and drone sports, creating a comprehensive and future-ready ecosystem for unmanned aerial systems across Europe. The company made this announcement during PM Modi’s recent visit to Cyprus.

High commissioner of India to the Republic of Cyprus Manish said: “We welcome Indian companies like Drone Destination to invest in Cyprus, particularly in future‑ready sectors such as drone technology and artificial intelligence. This complements Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to make India a drone hub for the world by 2030, and Cyprus can serve as an ideal gateway for such innovations into Europe. The decision of Drone Destination soon after the conclusion of Prime Minister’s first official visit to Republic of Cyprus testifies the commitment of Indian companies to engage Cyprus in enhancing our bilateral economic agenda.”

Cyprus is seeking investment in this sphere. “Drone technology is reshaping defence, infrastructure monitoring, agriculture, logistics, environmental monitoring, STEM education and even entertainment. By creating a secure, sovereign, and innovation-led drone hub envisaged by Drone Destination, Cyprus has the opportunity to lead in this critical sector, not just for itself, but for Europe and trusted partners globally,” said Invest Cyprus CEO Marios Tannousis in a statement.

“Drone Destination is already in active discussions with both government and private sector entities in the region to develop a state-of-the-art drone ecosystem through its planned Cyprus-based operations. The initiative is poised to deliver sovereign capabilities, attract foreign direct investment, and position Cyprus as a trusted global innovation hub in this strategically vital sector,” the company said in a statement.

PM Modi has given a big boost to the use of drones across all spheres in India. Cyprus is being seen as a strategic gateway for Indian companies’ unmanned systems in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

“Drone Destination is proud to bring India’s proven experience in drone services and pilot training to this initiative in the region. Together, we can build a global centre that combines India’s scale and innovation with Cyprus’s strategic location, IP protection, and policy clarity,” said Drone Destination chairman Alok Sharma. (TOI)

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