High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

Good morning.

Namaskar.

And as they say in my country – Ayubowan! (which means May You Live Long!)  

International Women’s Day often becomes a moment for celebration. But it is also something else. 

To me, International Women’s Day is a reminder of the distance between where women are today and where they have always had the right to be. 

I am deeply honoured to have been invited to speak here today.

Until late last evening, the presence of our Foreign Minister in Delhi for the Raisina Dialogue kept me on my feet. It was during the early hours of this morning that I finally began thinking about what I would say here today. 

As I read the letter addressed to me by Professor Raj Kumar, I was struck by the theme “Give to Gain.” Because it has a great deal of relevance to my own country, Sri Lanka, not as a slogan, but as a structural truth.

And I believe our story holds something genuinely useful for this conversation.Something a little unexpected, perhaps. And also, honest. 

In 1960, sixty-six years ago, a woman stood before the people of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) elected by the people as the first female Prime Minister in the history of the world: Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Interestingly, she served for more than eighteen years across three terms. 

In 1994, the people of Sri Lanka elected her daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga, first as Prime Minister and then as Executive President – Sri Lanka’s first and, to date, only female Executive President. 

The discussion focused on further strengthening bilateral relations under the joint vision "Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future."

Rooted in proximity, strengthened by trust, and guided by practical cooperation, the India - Sri Lanka partnership continues to evolve with purpose.

Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism, Vijitha Herath held bilateral discussions with H.E. Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue 2026.

Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and Kenya across fields including through political consultations, enhanced business partnerships, tourism, multilateral fora, and other matters of mutual interest. Both sides reaffirmed shared commitment to further strengthening the Sri Lanka-Kenya friendship. 

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Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism, Vijitha Herath engaged in a bilateral discussion with Dr. Ian Borg, Hon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue 2026.

Discussions spanned across areas including maritime cooperation, tourism, visa facilitation, and launching bilateral consultations. Sri Lanka invited investors from Malta to explore opportunities in Sri Lanka including investment in tech hubs, green infrastructure and Colombo Port City. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Malta.

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