Estonia – Sri Lanka relations
Encyclopedia
Estonian-Sri Lankan relations are foreign relations between the nations of Estonia
and Sri Lanka
. The Sri Lankan embassy that serves Estonia is in Stockholm. Estonia currently does not have an honorary consul in Sri Lanka, though negotiations are taking place to appoint one to Colombo
. 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.
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.
In 1991 Estonia, after regaining its independence, was recognized by Sri Lanka on 10 October 1991. By 31 January 1996 diplomatic relations were established between the two countries.
Since 30 March 2000 Ain Kabal has been Sri Lanka’s honorary consul in Estonia.
Between August 2005 and October 2007, the Sri Lankan ambassador to Estonia was Nagoorpitchai Sikkander, who resided in Stockholm.
The current Sri Lankan Ambassador to Estonia is T.E. Ranjith Pemsiri Jayasooriya who took the post on 30 April 2009.
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
.
In 2009 Kaido Kotkas of Estonia argued for closer relations with Sri Lanka:
and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met during the UN General Assembly in New York City
. The Sri Lankan ambassador accredited to Estonia has made many visits to Estonia and met with various government officials.
. Sri Lanka ranked 89th among Estonia’s export partners and 61st among import partners in 2007. 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.
Main Estonian exports in 2007:
Main Estonian imports in 2007:
Trade between Estonia and Sri Lanka 2000–2007 (in thousand EUR):
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. The Sri Lankan embassy that serves Estonia is in Stockholm. Estonia currently does not have an honorary consul in Sri Lanka, though negotiations are taking place to appoint one to Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. Estonia's 2004 accession to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
had a positive effect on bilateral relations with Sri Lanka, since the EU is one of Sri Lanka's biggest donors and trade partners.
History
Sri Lanka first recognized Estonia on 10 October 1991, and diplomatic relations were established on 31 January 1996. Since Estonia’s induction into the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
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.
In 1991 Estonia, after regaining its independence, was recognized by Sri Lanka on 10 October 1991. By 31 January 1996 diplomatic relations were established between the two countries.
Since 30 March 2000 Ain Kabal has been Sri Lanka’s honorary consul in Estonia.
Between August 2005 and October 2007, the Sri Lankan ambassador to Estonia was Nagoorpitchai Sikkander, who resided in Stockholm.
The current Sri Lankan Ambassador to Estonia is T.E. Ranjith Pemsiri Jayasooriya who took the post on 30 April 2009.
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
Toomas Hendrik Ilves
Toomas Hendrik Ilves is the fourth and current President of Estonia. He is a former diplomat and journalist, was the leader of the Social Democratic Party in the 1990s and later a member of the European Parliament...
, the President of Estonia
President of Estonia
The President of the Republic is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia.Estonia is a parliamentary republic, therefore President is mainly a symbolic figure and holds no executive power. The President has to suspend his membership in any political party for his term in office...
.
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.
Visits
On 25 September 2003, the Estonian Foreign Minister Kristiina OjulandKristiina Ojuland
Kristiina Ojuland was the foreign minister of Estonia from 2002 through 2005. In June 2004 she ran for the post of secretary-general of the Council of Europe, but was defeated, receiving 51 of 299 votes...
and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met during the UN General Assembly in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The Sri Lankan ambassador accredited to Estonia has made many visits to Estonia and met with various government officials.
Economic ties
Economic ties between Sri Lanka and Estonia are very low. During the last five years 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 kroonsEstonian kroon
In 1992, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 10, 20 & 50 senti, as well as 1 kroon. The 1 kroon was struck in cupronickel, the others in aluminum-bronze. However, in 1997, nickel-plated steel 20 senti were introduced, followed by aluminum-bronze 1 kroon in 1998. 5 senti coins were not...
. Sri Lanka ranked 89th among Estonia’s export partners and 61st among import partners in 2007. The balance of trade between two countries has been favourable for Estonia except in 2000. Sri Lanka is the biggest Black Tea
Black tea
Black tea is a variety of tea that is more oxidized than the oolong, green, and white varieties.All four varieties are made from leaves of the shrub Camellia sinensis. Black tea is generally stronger in flavor and contains more caffeine than the less oxidized teas. Two principal varieties of the...
supplier and the second biggest Green Tea
Green Tea
Green Tea is a 2003 Chinese film. It was adapted from the novel Adiliya by the River by Jin Renshun.Shot in the summer of 2002, Green Tea was one of three films directed by Zhang Yuan that year .The film was photographed by established Hong Kong-cinematographer Christopher Doyle, whose work gives...
supplier to the Estonian market.
Main Estonian exports in 2007:
- Machinery and equipment – 52%
- Paper and paper products – 43%
Main Estonian imports in 2007:
- Plant products (mostly tea) – 47%
- Plastic and rubber products – 41%
- Machinery and equipment – 5%
- Textile and textile products – 2%
Trade between Estonia and Sri Lanka 2000–2007 (in thousand EUR):
| Year | Imports to Estonia | Exports from Estonia |
| 2000 | 1,554 | 828.6 |
| > 1,542 | ||
| 2002 | 2,053 | 1,899 |
| > 1,497 | ||
| 2004 | 453 | 1,255 |
| 2006 | 1,363 | 292.5 |
| 2007 | 1,364 | 456.7 |
Agreements
- Intergovernmental Agreement for Co-operation in Culture, Education and Science (2005) which "foresees interlibrary loaning, creating contacts between universities and other educational and scientific establishments, exchanging of TV and radio programmes, and co-operation between sports and youth organisations."
- Agreement for Co-operation Between the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (2000)