๐๐ซ๐ข ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฎฬ๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ฒ๐, ๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment of Sri Lanka, Arun Hemachandra, successfully concluded his official visit to Ankara, Tรผrkiye, on 28 October 2026, following a series of high-level bilateral meetings and the signing of two important bilateral instruments aimed at further strengthening cooperation between Sri Lanka and Tรผrkiye.
The two-day visit, undertaken from 27 to 28 October 2026, marked the first official bilateral visit to Ankara by a Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and provided an important opportunity to advance political dialogue, expand economic engagement and enhance longstanding bilateral relations into concrete areas of cooperation.
During the visit, Deputy Minister Hemachandra held bilateral discussions with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tรผrkiye, Berris Ekinci, reviewing the progress achieved in bilateral relations and exploring opportunities to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
A major outcome of the visit was the signing of two bilateral instruments on agricultural cooperation and air transport, representing tangible progress in expanding the scope of cooperation between the two countries.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation, signed with the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, establishes a framework for strengthening bilateral collaboration in the agricultural sector, including the exchange of expertise, technical knowledge, research and capacity-building. The instrument is expected to facilitate closer institutional cooperation and support agricultural development in the two countries.
The Protocol Amending the Air Transport Agreement between Sri Lanka and Tรผrkiye, originally signed on 2 December 2008, provides an updated framework for strengthening bilateral air transport cooperation. The Protocol is expected to facilitate enhanced air connectivity, support the development of tourism and trade, and create further opportunities for economic and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Deputy Minister Hemachandra also held discussions with the Deputy Ministers of the Turkish Ministries responsible for Labour and Social Security, Trade, as well as Culture and Tourism.
During the discussions with the Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security, attention was focused on exploring possibilities for cooperation in employment and labour mobility, including potential opportunities for Sri Lankan workers in sectors where specific labour requirements exist in Tรผrkiye.
At the Ministry of Trade, the Deputy Minister discussed opportunities to expand bilateral trade, strengthen business-to-business engagement, promote Sri Lankan exports and encourage greater participation by the private sectors of the two countries in trade promotion initiatives. The discussions highlighted the importance of identifying new avenues for commercial cooperation and strengthening institutional links between relevant trade organizations.
Discussions with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism focused on enhancing tourism cooperation, promoting Sri Lanka as a travel destination among Turkish travellers, and exploring opportunities for closer collaboration between the tourism industries of the two countries.
The Deputy Minister's engagements with the Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry and Transport and Infrastructure further reinforced the importance of ensuring effective implementation of the newly signed bilateral instruments and translating them into practical benefits for both countries.
As the final official engagement of the visit, Deputy Minister Hemachandra met Mr. Gรผrsel Baran, President of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, on 28 October 2026. The meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen direct engagement with the Turkish business community and explore possibilities for expanding trade, investment and commercial partnerships between Sri Lanka and Tรผrkiye. The discussions emphasised the importance of promoting greater interaction between business communities, identifying mutually beneficial commercial opportunities and encouraging Turkish businesses to explore Sri Lanka's potential as a destination for trade and investment.
The official visit reaffirmed the strong and friendly relations between Sri Lanka and Tรผrkiye and demonstrated the shared commitment of both countries to advancing cooperation through sustained political dialogue, strengthened institutional partnerships and practical bilateral initiatives.
Deputy Minister Hemachandra was accompanied to the meetings by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Tรผrkiye, Niluka Kadurugamuwa, and senior officials of the Embassy.