Sri Lanka – Vietnam relations have roots in the two countries affinity to Buddhism and were nurtured through the solidarity of Sri Lanka during the Vietnam’s struggle against colonialism.  Sri Lanka has firmly favoured Vietnam during the Vietnamese struggle for freedom and also recognized the provincial Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.  Later following the unification Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to establish relations with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Following the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1970, Vietnam opened a resident mission in Colombo in May 1971 while Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in China was concurrently accredited to Vietnam.  Later accreditation was from Thailand.  As Vietnam withdrew its resident representation from Sri Lanka in 1982 due to economical reasons, the Vietnamese Ambassador in India is concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka.

In January 2001, demonstrating Sri Lanka’s interest to strengthen bilateral relations with Vietnam, the Cabinet decided to open a resident Sri Lankan Mission in Hanoi.  Accordingly, the Sri Lanka Embassy was opened in Hanoi on 16th January 2003 and the first resident Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam presented credentials to H.E. Mr. Tran Duc Luong, President of Vietnam on 17th February 2003.  This was an opening of a new chapter aimed at reinvigorating traditional relationship between the two countries.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1970, Sri Lanka and Vietnam have signed a number of agreements and MoUs in many fields for co-operation between the two countries.

Vietnam has been benefited by the South South Technical Co-operation programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced in 2001 and a considerable number of Vietnamese nationals continue to undergo training and skill development programmes in selected centers of excellence in Sri Lanka. 

There are also a considerable number of Sri Lankans living and working in Vietnam. Mostly, professionals attached to multinational organizations, hospitality sector etc.  A several Sri Lankan companies have investments in garments, desiccated coconut industries and service sectors such as shipping etc.

With the opening of the Vietnamese economy and the lifting of trade embargo on Vietnam by the U.S., Vietnam has recorded a number of encouraging achievements in the fields of trade and economic development in the recent past.  Liberalisation of the Vietnamese economy and economic progress have been further accelerated following its admission into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2006.

There is a growing potential for further co-operation between the two countries specially in trade, investments and tourism and the business community of both countries should make use of these opportunities.  Vietnam tariff structure is currently under review and more liberalized tariff in accordance with WTO regulations are expected.  

There are opportunities for Sri Lanka business community for the promotion of intermediate goods for industries such as construction, hospitality, plantation and garments etc.  Sri Lanka could also offer consultancy/professional services in the fields of engineering, architecture, construction, hotel management and business management.  Export market for consumable products such as Confectionery, Tea and other beverages including herbal drinks, Cosmetics, Rubber products and Gem and jewellery etc. are also growing as a result of the rising purchasing power among the 83 million Vietnamese population due to the fast economic growth.  Currently Sri Lanka enjoys favourable import duties for Sri Lankan products as Vietnam extends MFN status to Sri Lanka. These opportunities have to be explored by the Sri Lankan business community.

Today Vietnam has emerged as one of the most promising destinations for foreign investments especially in the areas of manufacturing and services.

 

Opening of the New Chancery of the Embassy of Sri Lanka

Official opening of the New Chancery of the Sri Lanka Embassy at No. 55B Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi took place on 27th October 2003. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Tyronne Fernando, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, H.E. Nguyen Dy Nien, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other Ministries and Sri Lankan Expatriates in Hanoi.

H.E. Tyronne Fernando, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka welcoming his Vietnamese counterpart H.E. Nguyen Dy Nien at the new Embassy for the opening Ceremony

H.E. Nguyen Dy Nien, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam lighting the traditional oil lamp. Hon. Tyronne Fernando looks on

H.E. Nguyen Dy Nien, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam addressing the gathering. Hon. Tyronne Fernando and Sri Lanka’s First Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E. M.M. Jaffeer looks on.