High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath visited New Delhi from 5 – 7 March 2026 to participate in the Raisina Dialogue 2026, at the invitation of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and the Ministry of External Affairs of India.

On the margins of the Dialogue, the Foreign Minister held a series of bilateral meetings focused on strengthening Sri Lanka’s partnerships with international partners.

The Minister met with Dr. Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta, Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, and Olivier Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Rwanda.

The Foreign Minister also held discussions with the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar. The warm and constructive exchange focused on further strengthening bilateral relations under the shared vision of "Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future". Both Ministers reviewed the progress of the Sri Lanka - India partnership, and exchanged views on regional developments.

In an interview held with Firstpost, the Minister highlighted Sri Lanka’s progress towards economic recovery and efforts to build investor confidence.

The Foreign Minister also participated in the panel discussion titled "Heart of the Seas: The Future of the Indian Ocean".

High Commission of Sri Lanka

New Delhi

12 March 2026

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. 

Courtesy - https://www.facebook.com//