The strong diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and Israel

Sri Lanka and Israel maintains highest diplomatic and business relations for a long time. Israel assisted Sri Lanka on Agriculture, Defense, Technology and many others ares in additional to traditional  Diplomatic functions.

Sri Lanka’s diplomatic relations with the State of Israel dates back to thousands of years. Sri Lanka and Israel re-activated into direct diplomatic relations in May 2000 with the opening Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tel Aviv in October of that year. in Sri Lanka it is accredited to Sri Lanka from New Delhi, India.

Sri Lanka’s relations with Israel have been close and friendly in the past, bilateral relations between the two countries have grown exponentially during the thirteen years of the Embassy’s existence in Israel. On the political front, the recent highest ranking visit to Israel by a government dignitary from Sri Lanka was by former Prime Minister Hon. Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka in March 2008 and Hon. Orit Noked, Minister of Agriculture of Israel visited Sri Lanka in May 2011. Since then many other visits have taken place from Sri Lanka to Israel with the most recent being that of the visit of Hon. Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs which took place from 25th to 28th February 2013.

The Embassy continues to facilitate and co-ordinate trade functions on the economic front which is the principal focus at present. The Embassy continuously seeks opportunities for trade and investment promotion with the Israeli private and public sectors. The establishment of the Israeli Business Development Office (IBDO) in May 2012 has undoubtedly assisted in expanding bilateral trade between the two countries. The major exports from Sri Lanka to Israel are diamonds, precious stones, tea, rubber and rubber based products, coconut and coconut fibre, articles of apparel and accessories.

There are an estimated 7000 Sri Lankans working in Israel in the caregiving category. The Embassy is currently in negotiations with the relevant Israeli authorities to get semi-skilled and skilled labour from Sri Lanka into Israel.

The Embassy provides a range of consular services to attend to the needs of the Sri Lankan community based in Israel.