Estonia–Sri Lanka relations

Estonian-Sri Lankan relations
Map indicating locations of Estonia and Sri Lanka

Estonia
Sri Lanka
Current ambassador of Estonia to Sri Lanka, Riho Kruuv, presents his credentials to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in September 2017

Estonia-Sri Lanka relations are the bilateral relations between Estonia and Sri Lanka. Estonia has an embassy in Colombo. Sri Lanka has a non resident embassy in Stockholm.[1][2][3] Estonia's 2004 accession to the European Union had a positive effect on bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, since the EU is one of Sri Lanka's biggest donors and trade partners.[4]

History

Sri Lanka first recognized Estonia on 10 October 1991, and diplomatic relations were established on 31 January 1996.[4][5] Since Estonia's induction into the European Union it has had a positive effect on bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, since the EU is one of Sri Lanka's biggest donors and trade partners.

On April 30, 2009, an invitation was given by Ambassador Jayasooriya to the Speaker of the Estonian Parliament to visit Sri Lanka and strengthen the relationship between the two countries when the Sri Lankan Ambassador met Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the President of Estonia.[6]

In 2009, Kaido Kotkas of Estonia argued for closer relations with Sri Lanka:

Sri Lankan people, in fact lots of them, don't know much about Estonia and the majority of the Estonians do not know anything about Sri Lanka, either. To know each other and to establish acquaintances, at least we have to start a process of communication, establish contacts, visit and become friends. It is nice to visit as friends. It is nice to invite each other as friends and ask them to come down to play some tennis or badminton or to have some lunch or dinner together. After establishing some form of a mutual understanding, after exploring some form of commonness between us and by then we will have some common topics to talk about.[7]

Estonia's first consulate in Sri Lanka was declared opened on 24 February 2011.[8]

High level meetings

On 25 September 2003, the Estonian Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met during the UN General Assembly in New York City.[4]

High level visits

To date, there has been no state visits by leaders of either country. There has been only one visit by a government minister to the other country. The Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Urmas Paet, along with a key trade delegation, visited Sri Lanka in February 2013 with a goal of strengthening bilateral trade and other investment opportunities, in areas such as maritime, railways, infrastructure, defense and tourism.[9] During their visit they met with Sri Lanka's Minister of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa,[10] Sri Lanka's Minister for Economic Development Basil Rajapakse and Sri Lanka's Minister of Industry and Commerce Risad Badhiutheen[11][12]

Economic relations

Economic ties between Sri Lanka and Estonia are very low. During the last five years[when?] the total trade between the two countries has recorded less than two and half million US$ a year. Sri Lanka was placed 78th among Estonia's trade partners in 2007 resulting in a total trade turnover between Estonia and Sri Lanka of 28.5 million kroons. Sri Lanka ranked 89th among Estonia's export partners and 61st among import partners in 2007.[4] The balance of trade between two countries has been favourable for Estonia except in 2000. Sri Lanka is the biggest Black Tea supplier and the second biggest Green Tea supplier to the Estonian market.[2]

Main Estonian exports in 2007:[4]

  • Machinery and equipment – 52%
  • Paper and paper products – 43%

Main Estonian imports in 2007:[4]

  • Plant products (mostly tea) – 47%
  • Plastic and rubber products – 41%
  • Machinery and equipment – 5%
  • Textile and textile products – 2%

Trade between Estonia and Sri Lanka 2000–2007 (in thousand EUR):[4]

Year Imports to Estonia Exports from Estonia
2000 1,554 828.6
2001 1,542 929.2
2002 2,053 1,899
2003 2,034 1,497
2004 453 1,255
2005 1,043 369.4
2006 1,363 292.5
2007 1,364 456.7

Agreements

  • Intergovernmental Agreement for Co-operation in Culture, Education and Science (2005) which "foresees interlibrary loaning, creating contacts between universities and other educational and scientific establishments, exchanging of TV and radio programmes, and co-operation between sports and youth organisations."[4]
  • Agreement for Co-operation Between the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (2000) [4]

Tourism

The Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves has acknowledged that Sri Lanka is a very attractive tourist destination and has suggested that Sri Lanka should concentrate on promoting Estonian tourists to Sri Lanka as Estonians are interested in visiting destinations with diversified tourist attractions.[6]

In 2015, it was reported that around 2000 Estonian tourists visit Sri Lanka and year.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Appointment of Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to Sri Lanka". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka. mfa.gov.lk. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Sri Lanka- Bilateral Relation with Baltic States". Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
  3. ^ "Sri Lanka Ambassador to Estonia presents Credentials". news.lk. Government of Sri Lanka. 29 March 2017. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Estonia and Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations". Estonia. Archived from the original on 2011-01-02. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
  5. ^ Sri Lanka foreign affairs. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka. 1998. ISBN 978-955-649-002-2.
  6. ^ a b "Sri Lanka – Estonia to establish friendly relationship". Asian Tribune. May 14, 2009. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved 2009-12-16. ...
  7. ^ "Estonian Sri Lankan Confab: Endeavour to build relationship at people to people level". Asian Tribune. January 25, 2009. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
  8. ^ курс, The Baltic Course - Балтийский. "Estonia opens honorary consulates in Sri Lanka and on Gran Canaria". The Baltic Course | Baltic States news & analytics. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
  9. ^ "Estonian delegation visits Sri Lanka to explore trade and investment opportunities | NEWS360.lk". Archived from the original on 2013-02-27. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
  10. ^ "Foreign Affairs Minister of Estonia calls on Secretary Defence". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
  11. ^ "Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka, Estonia developing bilateral economic relations". Colombo Page. Archived from the original on 2013-02-20. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
  12. ^ "Estonia helps to promote Sri Lanka tourism". Archived from the original on 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
  13. ^ "Estonia to boost trade with Lanka". Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 2016-08-18.