Sri Lankan envoy highlights respect-based relations with Saudi Arabia

• The historic silk route, used by Arab traders, highlights Sri Lanka’s role.
• Sri Lanka is pleased about Riyadh hosting Expo 2030, a project Colombo supported.
• The number of Saudi nationals visiting Sri Lanka is gaining momentum, with several tourism events held.

Colombo’s ambassador in Riyadh, Pakeer Mohideen Amza, stated at a reception commemorating the 76th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence that relations between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka are based on common values, mutual respect, support, and noninterference.

He highlighted that Sri Lanka-Saudi Arabia relations date back several centuries, emphasizing Sri Lanka’s role as a pivotal point in the historic silk route extensively used by Arab traders. Amza mentioned that in ancient times, Arabs referred to Sri Lanka as ‘Serendip,’ a term later added to the English vocabulary as ‘serendipity.’

The ambassador highlighted that the Sri Lankan leadership had expressed admiration for Saudi Vision 2030 on numerous occasions, noting it as a well-thought-out strategy that considers the Kingdom’s strengths and capabilities and the impressive progress made under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

He added that Sri Lanka is pleased about Riyadh hosting Expo 2030, a project Colombo was among the first to support.

Amza emphasized that the past two years have seen extremely productive relations between the two states.

In March 2022, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Sri Lanka.

“This was the first ever bilateral foreign ministerial visit from the Kingdom to Sri Lanka, ever since we established diplomatic relations in 1974,” Amza said.

Subsequently, Ali Sabry, Sri Lanka’s minister of foreign affairs, visited Saudi Arabia early last year.

First joint session:

The ambassador mentioned that the two countries held the first session of the joint commission in Riyadh in May 2023. During this session, representatives identified 63 areas for further cooperation, covering trade, industry, investment, energy, finance, economy, transport, communication, agriculture, education, health, sports, culture, tourism, security, judicial, and labor.

He added that last year, employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in Saudi Arabia increased, with the Kingdom generating 63,000 posts for Sri Lankans.

Amza stated, “Of the annual remittances to Sri Lanka amounting to $7-8 billion a year, 15 to 20 percent has been generated by the Sri Lankans living in the Kingdom.”

He further mentioned that the number of Saudi nationals visiting Sri Lanka is gaining momentum, following several tourism events held with the active participation of numerous tour operators. This includes the official launch of the Ibn Battuta Trail Travel Package, tracing the path of the 14th-century traveler.

The ambassador extended greetings to fellow Sri Lankan nationals living in Saudi Arabia.

“Our post-independence journey had ups and downs, like any other country. We have had challenges and opportunities. Thankfully the path of our recovery is steady and encouraging. Sri Lanka’s inflation, which was 70 percent in September 2022, has now come down to 5 percent. The rupee has stabilized. Remittances have seen a 60 percent increase year-on-year from 2022-2023. Tourism has seen an annual growth of 106 percent in 2023 (and) our reserves, which were at $20 million in April 2022, have risen to $4.5 billion by January 2024.”

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