At the invitation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam To Lam, accompanied by a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, is paying a State visit to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka from May 7 to 8.

This marks the first visit to Sri Lanka by a Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President. The visit sends a clear message underscoring Viet Nam’s importance attached to the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka, while creating opportunities for the two countries to advance bilateral ties to a new height. Together with the visit to India, the Party General Secretary and President’s trip to Sri Lanka also reflects Viet Nam’s attention to and appreciation of the South Asian region.

We have every solid basis to believe that Party General Secretary and President To Lam’s State visit to Sri Lanka will become an important political milestone, generating fresh momentum and ushering in a new phase of development in bilateral relations, with political trust strengthened to a higher level and cooperation expanded in both scope and depth, becoming more effective and substantive.

The enduring friendship between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka has been built and nurtured by generations of leaders of the two countries, founded on mutual trust, respect, shared values, cultural traditions and deep mutual understanding. Throughout the 56 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations on July 21, 1970, Viet Nam and Sri Lanka have provided each other with valuable support in the struggle for national liberation as well as in the current cause of national construction and development.

Sri Lankan leaders have consistently expressed their warm sentiments and admiration for President Ho Chi Minh, as well as for the country and people of Viet Nam, while also demonstrating a desire to further develop the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two nations in a more substantive and effective manner. During his State visit to Viet Nam and attendance at the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations in 2025, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake affirmed that the leadership and people of Sri Lanka have always held warm friendship and affection for Viet Nam and President Ho Chi Minh; they admire Viet Nam’s indomitable spirit in both wartime and national development, and wish to learn from Viet Nam’s development experience.

Over the years, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka-Viet Nam Solidarity Association have organised numerous solidarity and support activities for Viet Nam, including translating and publishing many books and works by President Ho Chi Minh, along with other Vietnamese publications, in Sri Lanka. These activities have served as cultural and intellectual bridges between the two countries, reflecting the solidarity and affection that Sri Lankan leaders and people hold for the country and people of Viet Nam.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam has always remembered and deeply appreciated the affection, support, and assistance extended by Sri Lanka during Viet Nam’s struggle for national independence. The Party and State of Viet Nam attach importance to Sri Lanka’s role and position in the region and wish to further deepen bilateral ties on the basis of longstanding friendship, high political trust, and the many shared values and interests between the two countries.

The warm friendship and valuable support that the two countries have offered each other throughout their respective national development processes provide a solid foundation for further strengthening and deepening Viet Nam–Sri Lanka relations. Over the past 56 years of establishment and development, despite various ups and downs and historical challenges, bilateral ties have achieved many encouraging accomplishments and important milestones.

The two sides have maintained exchanges of delegations and regular high-level contacts from an early stage, helping to strengthen mutual understanding and trust. Viet Nam and Sri Lanka have established three key bilateral cooperation mechanisms: the Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation; Political Consultations; and the Joint Subcommittee on Trade. Sri Lanka currently has four friendship organisations dedicated to Viet Nam, namely the Sri Lanka–Viet Nam Solidarity Association, the Sri Lanka–Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Association, the Viet Nam–Sri Lanka Friendship Fund of the People's Liberation Front Party, and the Sri Lanka–Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Group.

In terms of trade, bilateral trade turnover in 2024 reached approximately 215.5 million USD. In 2025, bilateral trade turnover reached around 260 million USD, an increase of 20% compared with the 2024 figure. As of March 2026, bilateral trade turnover had reached approximately 50 million USD. The two countries signed an Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation in October 2005 and an Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters in May 2025. Sri Lanka recognises Viet Nam as a full market economy.

In the field of defence and security, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on bilateral defence cooperation in October 2011. In terms of security, the two sides signed an extradition agreement and an Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons in 2014. Cooperation has mainly been carried out in such areas as sharing information and experience in law enforcement; coordinating in the prevention and combat of transnational crimes and international terrorism; and cooperating to enhance law enforcement capacity and judicial assistance.

In terms of culture, the Sri Lankan Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs expressed the desire to restart and renew the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation signed between the two countries in 2009, while proposing several potential areas for further cooperation, such as archaeology and cultural exchanges. Buddhist relations between the two countries have achieved certain results through delegation exchanges; support for and participation in conferences and international activities related to religion organised by both sides; the creation of favourable conditions for Buddhist communities of the two countries to strengthen exchanges and share Buddhist teachings; and the sending of monks and nuns to Sri Lanka for study.

In addition to maintaining fine bilateral relations, Viet Nam and Sri Lanka share common views on many international and regional issues. Both countries wish to strengthen cooperation, support each other, and become close and reliable partners in regional and international multilateral forums. Sri Lanka has supported Viet Nam’s candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023–2025 term and the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the 2023–2027 term. Meanwhile, Viet Nam supports Sri Lanka’s candidacy for the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2025–2027 term and the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2023–2027 term.

Looking back on the past journey, Viet Nam and Sri Lanka have every right to be proud of the traditional friendship and effective cooperation that the two nations have persistently cultivated over many generations. The State visit to Sri Lanka by General Secretary and President To Lam will mark a brilliant milestone in the more than half-century of partnership between the two nations, and will further strengthen Viet Nam–Sri Lanka relations, aiming for new heights, benefiting the people of both countries, and making a positive contribution to peace, cooperation, and prosperous development in the region and the world.