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The Milestone of the 70 Years Diplomatic Relations between Indonesia and Sri Lanka

This year is an important year for Indonesia and Sri Lanka as it signifies the commemoration of 70th Anniversary of diplomatic Relations between the two countries that was established on the 6th of August 1952. Relations between Indonesia and Sri Lanka have historically been established since the 8th century. The Abhayagiriwahara inscription mentions that Rakai Panangkaran brought teachers from India or Sri Lanka when he converted to Buddhism. The construction of the Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Indonesia, is also inseparable from the approval of Rakai Panangkaran to the Buddhists. Rakai Panangkaran was the Second King of the Medang Kingdom, who lived in the Central Java period or the so-called Ancient Mataram Kingdom, which ruled around the 770s.

Kings from Sulawesi, Ternate, Tidore, to Kupang, including Bugis, Sundanese, Madurese, Minangkabau, Ambonese, Balinese were exiled to Sri Lanka. Many of these communities reside in Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee, and Jaffna. Some places in Sri Lanka also refer to identical Indonesian names such as Jawatte, and Ja-ela, to street names such as Melayu Street, Jawa Lane, and Jalan Padang. Many of them known as Malay Society which most were descended from Indonesia.

Relations between the two friendly countries, which had long historical and cultural ties, getting stronger by formally establishing the Diplomatic Relations between the two countries on the 6th of August 1952.

Since then, Indonesia and Sri Lanka have strengthened bilateral ties in various fields of mutual interests. The two countries also became the pioneers of the Asia-africa Conference, which took place on 18-24 April 1955 in Bandung. The said conference continued the Colombo Conference held in Sri Lanka from April 28 to May 2, 1954. The Asia-africa Conference, which outcome of the “Bandung Principles,” then gave birth to the Non-aligned Movement on September 1, 1961, through the First Summit in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

Indonesia and Sri Lanka support each other in various regional and international fora, including sharing knowledge and experiences through various activities, such as the Colombo Plan, Bali Democracy Forum, Bali Process, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), ASEAN Regional Forum, Archipelagic, and Island States (AIS) Forum. This collaboration continuously nurtures in strengthening bilateral relations through multilateral fora.

Moreover, the two countries also establish Parliamentary Friendship Group that become one of the important pillars in bilateral relations. “Sri Lanka – Indonesia Parliamentary Friendship Association (SIPFA)” was established in Sri Lanka on March 24, 2021, while in Indonesia, “The Indonesia – Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group,” was established in February 2020. The participation of Speaker of Sri Lanka and the delegation to the 144th Interparliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Bali in March 2022 and the oneon-one meeting between the Speaker of Sri Lanka and the Speaker of Indonesia on the side lines of the meeting has strengthened the relations.

Since the opening of diplomatic relations, more than 11 MOUS on bilateral Cooperation that has been signed, among others are MOU on Combating International Terrorism, MOU on Diplomatic Education and Training, and MOU on Cooperation Against Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Their Chemical Precursors. The two countries also continue to broader cooperation including in economic, trade, investment as well as the people-to people relations.

The two countries are currently preparing for the establishment of the Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI) and in the preparation of commencing the negotiation of Preferential Tariff Agreement (PTA) between Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The future implementation of the two mechanisms will further boost of the economic relations between the two nations.

Indonesia attaches great importance to the development of Indonesia – Sri Lanka relations, and Indonesia stand ready to support Sri Lanka during the challenging time of economic crisis. Considering of the urgency of the essential needs in Sri Lanka due to the economic crisis, on 28 April and 8 May 2022, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, supported by the pharmaceutical companies in Indonesia, had provided humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka on essential medicines and medical equipment with the value of LKR 517.5 million (around the US $1.6 million) in a total volume of the aid is 3.1 tons.

As the first country to give the humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, the quick responses from stakeholders in Indonesia show the thoughtfulness of Indonesia towards Sri Lanka and in understanding of the urgency of the said essential medicines and medical equipment for the people of Sri Lanka.

People-to-people is another important aspect to strengthen especially youth. Indonesia offers Dharmasiswa Scholarship annually to all international students to study Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia), art, and culture for one year program. More than 185 countries have participated in the program, organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture. There were 8 Sri Lankans graduated from the program. More youth of Sri Lanka are encouraged to participate in the program.

The relations between people-to-people stronger from time to time. Through the Establishment of Sri Lanka Indonesia Friendship Association (SLIFA) that was inaugurated in June 1992, to its 30th anniversary this year, SLIFA has played a big role in bridging and promoting closer cultural, social and trade relations between Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

The Malay community in Sri Lanka of more than 44.000 population with the majority are Indonesian descended, through the Sri Lanka Malay Association (SLMA) they also play role on the community by supporting the preservation of cultural values, assist the less privileged of society in their welfare and education, preserve the Sri Lankan Malay heritage, and foster religious values.

In the hybrid Webinar on 10 August 2022 organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka and the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI), during delivering their messages, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka emphasized the importance of promoting cooperation in various fields for the interests of the two countries and other developing countries, including agriculture, maritime affairs, defence and intelligent, narcotic eradication and others.

Both countries would continue to forge closer bonds of friendship in good times and difficult times. Indonesia reaffirms its commitment to being a reliable friend of Sri Lanka during this challenging time.

History proven, Indonesia and Sri Lanka stood side-by-side championing the voice of developing countries. Therefore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka will continuously emulate this spirit in addressing the various crisis we face today.

NEWS

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2022-08-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

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