Denmark–Sri Lanka relations

Denmark – Sri Lanka relations refers to the current and historical relations between Denmark and Sri Lanka. Denmark is represented in Sri Lanka through its embassy in New Delhi, India.^[1] Sri Lanka is represented in Denmark through its embassy Oslo, Norway.^[2] Bilateral relations are described as warm for a long time.^[3] About 13,000 immigrants from Sri Lanka live in Denmark.^[4] President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga visited Denmark in March 1995.^[5]

History

The beginning of the relations between the two countries goes back to the 17th century. In the year 1619, the Danish arrived in Trincomalee with a first ship called "Øresund" under the command of Roelant Cape. This small expedition was a vanguard of another Danish fleet, composed of 4 vessels and 300 soldiers, commanded by Ove Giedde, that reached the island of Ceylon in May 1620. They wanted to try their fortune in the Asian seas; the Danish expedition occupied Koneswaram temple. It was here that the Danes began the works for the fortification of the peninsula.^[6] The Danes were also the first Europeans to settle in the city of Trincomalee in Eastern Sri Lanka ^[7]

Diplomatic relations between Denmark and Sri Lanka were established on 5 January 1953.^[8] In 1959, an agreement on air services was signed.^[9] On 16 February 1963, both countries signed an agreement on double taxation.^[10] Denmark provided a loan to Sri Lanka in 1968.^[11]

Development assistance

In 2003, DANIDA assisted Sri Lanka with 156 million DKK for demining, human rights and conflict resolutions.^[5]

On 18 February 2009, during the Sri Lankan Civil War, Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs assisted Sri Lanka with 34 million DKK for demining and for the civilians in northern Sri Lanka.^[12]^[13]

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission was established on 22 February 2002 under the terms of a ceasefire agreement signed by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as a body that would monitor the ceasefire and enquire into reported violations of the ceasefire agreement. Its members were drawn primarily from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland. Following the abrogating of the ceasefire agreement in January 2008, the SLMM announced on 3 January 2008 that it would finally terminate its remaining operational activities in Sri Lanka with effect from 16 January 2008.^[14]

Trade

Trade between Denmark and Sri Lanka are described as "impressive". Sri Lankan export to Denmark are mainly rubber tyres, tobacco and clothes, while Danish export to Sri Lanka is fish, milk, hearing aids ( Oticon A/S) and medicaments.^[5] In 2008, Danish export to Sri Lanka amounted 145 million DKK and Sri Lankan export to Denmark amounted 157.9 million DKK.^[15]

References

^ Government of Denmark. "Welcome". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark). Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
^ Government of Sri Lanka. "Sri Lanka- Bilateral Relations with Nordic Countries". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
^ "Sri Lankan Ambassador urged for a favourable bilateral relationship with Denmark". Asian Tribune. 18 November 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
^ Statistical Yearbook 2010 (PDF). Denmark: Statistics Denmark. 8 June 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Diplomatic relations between Denmark and Sri Lanka". Embassy of Sri Lanka in Stockholm, Sweden. n.d. Archived from the original on 3 May 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
^ Barner Jensen, U. "Danish East India. Trade coins and the coins of Tranquebar, 1620–1845", pp. 11–12; Holden Furber "Imperi rivali nei mercati d’oriente, 1600–1800", note n° 66, p. 326: "Senarat of Kandy sent to Trincomalee 60 Sinhala men in order to help the Danes in the construction of their fort. During their permanence in Trincomalee, the Danesh coined also some "Larins", on which were recorded the words 'Don Erich Grubbe', of these coins, today do not remain trace, if not in the diary of Ove Giedde."
^ "Trincomalee: The arrival of the Danes, the Dutch and the construction of the Portuguese Fort". 18 February 2014.
^ "Foreign relations of Sri Lanka". South Asian Media Net. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2010. Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations with Denmark on the 5 January 1953. Sri Lankan Ambassador in Sweden is concurrently accredited to Denmark. The first Ambassador to be concurrently accredited was Mr. R.C.S. Koelmeyer on the 24 of May 1971. The Danish Ambassador in New Delhi is concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka. Both countries have Honorary Consuls in their capitals.
^ "Agreement (with annex, Protocol and exchange of letters) relating to air services" (PDF). United Nations Treaty Series. United Nations. 8 September 1959 [29 May 1959]. Retrieved 3 April 2011.^{[dead link]}
^ Income taxes outside the United Kingdom 1–2. University of Michigan. 1969. Retrieved 3 April 2011. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ "Agreement on a Danish Government loan to Ceylon" (PDF). United Nations Treaty Series. United Nations. 28 December 1968. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
^ Government of Denmark (18 February 2009). "Dansk nødhjælp til Sri Lanka" (in Danish). Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
^ "Mere dansk hjælp til Sri Lanka". Information. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
^ "The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission". Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission. Archived from the original on 13 January 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
^ Government of Denmark. "Foreign Affairs of Denmark: Facts about Sri Lanka" (in Danish). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark). Archived from the original on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.