By: Staff Writer
November 03, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka and the Netherlands are strengthening their century-old political and economic relationship, with both nations seeking to redefine cooperation as they approach the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2026. The second round of bilateral political consultations, held this week in The Hague, has underscored a new phase in this partnership one that blends historical reconciliation, maritime collaboration, and growing trade and tourism links with strategic geopolitical alignment.
The meeting was co-chaired by Dominique Kuhling, Director of the Asia and Oceania Department of the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Director-General of the Europe and North America Division at Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to shared values of democracy, maritime freedom, and cultural preservation key areas that now anchor bilateral ties.
At the forefront of discussions was the cultural heritage agenda, particularly the Netherlands’ ongoing effort to return colonial-era artefacts taken from Sri Lanka. Both sides hailed the active partnership between the National Archives of the Netherlands and the National Archives of Sri Lanka, which is engaged in conserving and digitising centuries-old Dutch-period documents. Officials described this process as a symbol of “healing historical legacies through cultural respect.”
Economically, the Netherlands remains one of Sri Lanka’s top ten tourism source markets and a key European trading partner. Discussions focused on expanding Dutch investments in tourism infrastructure, renewable energy, and port development, while encouraging collaboration between national chambers of commerce. The Sri Lankan delegation highlighted new investor incentives under the Board of Investment (BOI) and expressed readiness to deepen trade engagement with the Dutch private sector, particularly in logistics, shipping services, and sustainable agriculture.
Maritime collaboration emerged as a key strategic pillar. The Netherlands, known globally for its port engineering expertise, has been a long-term technical partner of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). Both parties agreed to strengthen cooperation in port development, coastal resilience, and maritime safety, aligning with Colombo’s ambition to position itself as the Indian Ocean’s logistics hub.
The consultations also addressed regional stability and security, with commitments to enhance cooperation within frameworks such as BIMSTEC and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). On the multilateral front, both sides discussed mutual support for candidacies within the United Nations system, reflecting their shared interest in a rules-based international order.
The meeting concluded with agreement to institutionalise these consultations at regular intervals to track progress. The Sri Lankan delegation included Ambassador Rekha Gunasekera, Dr. Nadeera Rupesinghe of the National Archives, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Dutch side comprised senior foreign ministry officers overseeing Asian and cultural cooperation.
Analysts note that the renewed engagement between the two countries goes beyond ceremonial diplomacy. As Sri Lanka seeks post-crisis economic recovery, Dutch partnerships in trade, heritage restoration, and maritime technology could play a pivotal role in shaping a modern, resilient Sri Lanka–Netherlands relationship built on mutual respect and pragmatic cooperation
