Sri Lankan Ambassador: General Secretary and President To Lam’s visit elevates multifaceted partnership to a higher, more strategic level

General Secretary, President To Lam received Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam Poshitha Perera to present the Letters of Credence, September 2024. (Photo: VNA)

How would you evaluate the objectives, significance and expectations of the upcoming visit by General Secretary, President To Lam to Sri Lanka, particularly in strengthening political trust and creating new momentum for the traditional friendship between our two nations?

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The upcoming visit of General Secretary, President To Lam to Sri Lanka is of profound importance, both in substance and symbolism. It comes at a time when Sri Lanka and Vietnam - two long-standing friends with over five and a half decades of diplomatic relations - are seeking to elevate their traditional goodwill into a more dynamic and forward-looking partnership.

In 2025, our two countries proudly commemorated the 55th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, marked by the successful State Visit of His Excellency Anura Kumara Dissanayake to Vietnam. That visit reinvigorated bilateral engagement and reaffirmed the shared commitment of our leadership to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.

In this context, the forthcoming visit by General Secretary, President To Lam is expected to be a defining milestone. It will not only consolidate the strong political trust that already exists between our two nations, but also elevate our multifaceted partnership to a higher and more strategic level.

From a political perspective, the visit will provide an important opportunity for high-level dialogue, enabling both sides to align their visions on regional and global issues, while reinforcing mutual confidence and understanding.

From an economic standpoint, it is anticipated that the visit will generate fresh momentum for trade, investment, and private-sector collaboration. With a strong business delegation accompanying the President, this engagement clearly signals Vietnam’s commitment to expanding economic ties and exploring new avenues of cooperation with Sri Lanka.

Over the past five decades, Vietnam and Sri Lanka have continuously consolidated and deepened their traditional friendship. Could you please share some of the most prominent highlights in our bilateral relations in recent years?

Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1970, at a time when many countries were hesitant to do so. We were among the first to extend our hand of friendship, and over the past five and a half decades, that relationship has grown into one of trust, mutual respect, and consistent cooperation.

Our two countries share similar historical experiences, having overcome colonial challenges and conflict, which has created a natural sense of understanding between us. We have also supported each other in international fora whenever needed, further strengthening political trust.

In recent years, bilateral relations have gained strong momentum, with frequent high-level exchanges and a wide range of agreements covering key sectors such as trade, investment, agriculture, education, science and technology, and cultural cooperation.

People-to-people ties remain one of the strongest pillars of our relationship. In Sri Lanka, there is deep admiration for Ho Chi Minh, and cultural and religious exchanges continue to bring our societies closer together. The presence of a Vietnamese pagoda in Sri Lanka, along with active engagement between religious communities, reflects this unique bond.

On the economic front, more than 30 Sri Lankan companies have already invested in Vietnam, with Sri Lankan professionals contributing at managerial levels. While trade is growing steadily, we recognize that there is still significant untapped potential for expansion.

Looking ahead, we are particularly optimistic about the impact of direct air connectivity between our two countries. This will further enhance trade, tourism, and investment, and bring our business communities and peoples even closer.

Overall, Sri Lanka-Vietnam relations are not only historically strong, but also forward-looking, with great potential to reach even higher levels in the years to come.

Trade relations between Vietnam and Sri Lanka have recently seen positive developments. In your opinion, which potential sectors should businesses from both sides focus on to achieve a breakthrough in bilateral trade?

Trade relations between Vietnam and Sri Lanka are indeed on an upward trajectory, but to achieve a meaningful breakthrough, we need to move beyond traditional trade patterns and focus on deeper structural collaboration.

First, integration into regional and global value chains should be a priority. Sri Lanka and Vietnam can position themselves as complementary partners - linking Vietnam’s manufacturing strength with Sri Lanka’s strategic location and market access. Encouraging joint ventures in textiles, rubber-based industries, electronics assembly, and light manufacturing would enable both countries to target third-country markets more effectively.

Second, agriculture and agri-processing cooperation offers significant scope. Rather than exporting primary products, both sides should promote value addition, technology transfer, and joint research, particularly in areas such as high-yield crops, food processing, and agri-logistics.

Third, logistics and maritime connectivity must be strengthened as an enabling pillar. With Sri Lanka’s position as a key hub in the Indian Ocean and Vietnam’s export-driven economy, there is strong potential to develop integrated shipping, warehousing, and distribution networks, supported by policy coordination.

Fourth, the digital economy and innovation ecosystem should be leveraged. Both countries can collaborate in ICT services, digital trade, fintech, and startups, supported by regulatory facilitation and skills development partnerships.

Fifth, tourism and air connectivity will play a catalytic role. The early operationalization of direct flights, combined with visa facilitation measures, can significantly boost business mobility and people-to-people exchanges.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam Poshitha Perera. (Photo: Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vietnam)

Vietnam and Sri Lanka indeed share a profound civilizational connection, with Buddhism serving as a strong and enduring bridge between our peoples. This shared heritage provides a unique and powerful foundation for deepening people-to-people engagement, particularly among the younger generations.

Vietnam and Sri Lanka indeed share profound cultural similarities, with Buddhism forming a deep and enduring bond between our two peoples. In fact, even before the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, these spiritual ties had already flourished, and they continue to serve as a moral and cultural foundation for our partnership today.

We have been actively building on this heritage through several meaningful initiatives. For example, Sri Lanka was honoured to gift a sapling of the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi to the Bai Dinh Pagoda in 2023, with architectural support reflecting authentic Sri Lankan heritage. This site now stands as a living symbol of our shared Buddhist tradition.

Similarly, the establishment of a Vietnamese temple in Kandy has created a vibrant centre for spiritual and cultural exchange. It is particularly inspiring to see local children engaging with the Vietnamese language and culture—this is people-to-people connectivity at its most genuine level.

We have also been promoting what we call “Temple-to-Temple Diplomacy,” bringing together monks, scholars, and communities from both countries. This initiative strengthens not only religious ties but also mutual understanding, especially among younger generations. Several monks and nuns from Vietnam regularly visit Sri Lanka for Buddhist education, reflecting the strong and enduring spiritual ties between our two nations. In addition, both sides have signed Memoranda of Understanding aimed at further promoting and strengthening cooperation in Buddhist education.

Looking ahead, the Embassy is focusing on expanding spiritual tourism and educational cooperation. With the expected introduction of direct flights and ongoing efforts toward visa facilitation, we aim to significantly increase Buddhist pilgrimages and cultural visits between our countries.

At the same time, we are encouraging academic and monastic exchanges, including opportunities for Vietnamese students and monks to study in Sri Lanka, particularly in Buddhist philosophy and heritage studies, while also promoting institutional partnerships between universities and research centres.

In addition, Sri Lanka is keen to collaborate with Vietnam in archaeology and cultural heritage conservation, sharing our long-standing expertise in preserving ancient sites and traditions. This will help ensure that our shared heritage is protected and appreciated by future generations.

Ultimately, our goal is to transform this deep spiritual connection into a dynamic platform for engagement—one that not only strengthens cultural ties, but also enables the younger generations of both countries to better understand, appreciate, and connect with each other.

Thank you very much!

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