Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has held a series of bilateral meetings with senior counterparts from Russia, the United States, India and Bangladesh on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila, the Philippines.
Herath arrived in the Philippine capital to attend the forum and a commemorative event marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), Ada Derana reported. The ARF ministerial sessions run from July 23 to 24.
On the margins of the gathering, Herath met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, with both sides reaffirming their bilateral ties, according to NewsFirst. In a further engagement with Washington, the minister held a brief discussion with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the forum, NewsFirst reported. Herath also held talks with U.S. Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor, focusing on strengthening cooperation between the two countries, particularly on maritime security.
In a separate engagement, the minister met Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman. Jaishankar shared a post on X expressing his pleasure at meeting his Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi counterparts during the regional gathering.
Herath also met Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on the margins of the forum. The two reaffirmed the close relations between the countries and discussed deepening cooperation in trade, economic connectivity, defence and people-to-people exchanges, NewsFirst reported. Both sides welcomed the momentum in bilateral engagement, including the recent visit of the Pakistan cricket team to Sri Lanka, and agreed on the importance of sustained high-level exchanges.
Herath went on to hold further bilateral talks on the margins of the forum, meeting the foreign ministers of the Netherlands, Canada and Singapore in separate engagements to review bilateral relations and regional cooperation, Ada Derana reported. He was also expected to meet senior officials from the European Union and the Asian Development Bank, and to inaugurate the Office of the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Mindanao.
That meeting with ASEAN’s Secretary-General, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, went ahead in Manila on July 24, the ASEAN Secretariat confirmed, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening ASEAN–Sri Lanka relations and exchanging views on areas of mutual interest. Herath described the talks as productive in a post on X, saying the two had discussed ARF-led activities, closer engagement between Sri Lanka and ASEAN member states, and steps to advance trade relations and people-to-people connectivity. “Look forward to closely working with the Secretary-General for further enhancing our friendly relations,” he wrote.
Herath also took part in the High-Level Conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, held in Pasay City, Metro Manila, to mark the treaty’s 50th anniversary. The conference drew foreign ministers and senior representatives from ASEAN member states and dialogue partners, according to the Foreign Ministry. Herath joined fellow ministers and heads of delegation for the commemorative group photograph and ceremonial events marking the golden jubilee.
The Manila engagements form part of Colombo’s wider effort to deepen ties across major and regional powers, balancing relationships with Moscow, Washington and New Delhi while expanding its footprint within the Indo-Pacific diplomatic architecture.
