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 Estonia |  Sri Lanka |
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Estonia-Sri Lanka relations are foreign relations between Estonia and Sri Lanka. Estonia has an embassy 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]
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]
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]
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 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]
Main Estonian imports in 2007: [4]
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 |
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]
The Republic of Estonia gained its independence from the Russian Empire on 24 February 1918 and established diplomatic relations with many countries via membership of the League of Nations. The forcible incorporation of Estonia into the Soviet Union in 1940 was not generally recognised by the international community and the Estonian diplomatic service continued to operate in some countries. Following the restoration of independence from the Soviet Union, Russia was one of the first nations to re-recognize Estonia's independence. Estonia's immediate priority after regaining its independence was the withdrawal of Russian forces from Estonian territory. In August 1994, this was completed. However, relations with Moscow have remained strained primarily because Russia decided not to ratify the border treaty it had signed with Estonia in 1999.
The Maldives has remained an independent nation throughout its recorded history, save for a brief spell of Portuguese occupation in the mid-16th century. From 1887 to 1965, the country was a British protectorate while retaining full internal sovereignty. At its independence in 1965, the Maldives joined the United Nations on 20 September.
Foreign relations of Sri Lanka refers to the diplomatic and commercial relations between Sri Lanka and other countries. Sri Lanka has stressed its principle of "friendship towards all, enmity towards none" in its diplomacy.
Anti-Estonian sentiment generally describes dislike, discrimination and/or hate of the/against/towards Estonian people or the Republic of Estonia and is typically propagated by the Russian government and media.
The relations between Estonia and the United States have been constant and strong since Estonia regained its independence in 1991. The United States and Estonia are allies and partners.
Foreign relations exist between Australia and Estonia. Australia first recognised Estonia on 22 September 1921. Australia was among the first countries to re-recognise Estonia's independence on 27 August 1991. Both countries re-established diplomatic relations on 21 November 1991.
Chile–Estonia relations are foreign relations between Chile and Estonia. Chile re-recognized Estonia on August 28, 1991 and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on September 27, 1991. Chile is represented in Estonia through its ambassador who resides in Helsinki (Finland) and through an honorary consulate in Tallinn. Estonia is represented in Chile through an honorary consulate in Santiago. The current Chilean ambassador to Estonia, Carlos Parra Merino, officially presented his credentials to the Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in June 2007. Carlos Parra Merino resides in Helsinki.
Foreign relations exist between Azerbaijan and Estonia. Both countries were part of Russian Empire and Soviet Union. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Tallinn. Estonia is represented in Azerbaijan through its embassy in Ankara (Turkey). Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Azerbaijan, along with Georgia and Armenia, is Estonia's ally in South Caucasus. Approximately 2,500 Azerbaijanis live in Estonia.
Estonia–India relations refers to the bilateral diplomatic relations between Estonia and India. India first recognised Estonia on 22 September 1921 when the former had just acquired membership in the League of Nations. India re-recognised Estonia on 9 September 1991 and diplomatic relations were established on 2 December of the same year in Helsinki. Estonia is represented in India by its embassy in New Delhi and its honorary consulate in Mumbai. India is represented in Estonia through its embassy in Helsinki (Finland) and through an honorary consulate in Tallinn.
Estonia–Sweden relations are foreign relations between Estonia and Sweden.
Hungary–Sri Lanka relations are foreign relations between Hungary and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has an embassy in Vienna, Austria that is accredited to Hungary and has a consul in Budapest Hungary maintains a consulate in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Pakistan–Sri Lanka relations refer to bilateral relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Both countries are located in South Asia. The earliest proper diplomatic and trade contacts between Pakistan and Sri Lanka date back as early as 1948. In 2013, the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif said that there were strong bonds of friendship between the two countries.
Japan–Sri Lanka relations refers to the bilateral relations between the Sri Lanka and Japan.
Russia–Sri Lanka relations are the bilateral relations between Russia and Sri Lanka.
Foreign relations exist between Australia and Sri Lanka. Australia has a High Commission in Colombo, likewise, Sri Lanka has a High Commission in Canberra.
Malaysia–Sri Lanka relations refers to the bilateral foreign relations between Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Malaysia has a high commission in Colombo, and Sri Lanka has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Group of 77.
Ieva Ilvesa is a Latvian diplomat, politician and cyber security policy expert, and former First Lady of Estonia. Ilvesa ran as a Latvian candidate for the 2019 European Parliament election. She was the third place candidate for Development/For!, second on the list was Baiba Rubesa, the former CEO of Rail Baltica.
Israel–Sri Lanka relations refers to the bilateral relations between Israel and Sri Lanka.
Mexico–Sri Lanka relations are the diplomatic relations between Mexico and Sri Lanka. Both nations are members of the United Nations. Neither country has a resident ambassador.
Foreign relations exist between Australia and Lithuania. Australia was among the first countries to re-recognise Lithuania's independence on 27 August 1991. Both countries formally established diplomatic relations on 6 November 1991. Australia is represented in Lithuania through its embassy in Warsaw, Poland and an honorary consulate in Vilnius. Lithuania has had an embassy in Canberra since 2021, and also has honorary consulates in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Darwin.
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