Sri Lanka has inaugurated an Honorary Consulate in Cambodia, with officials from both countries saying the office will strengthen trade, investment, tourism and diplomatic ties while providing consular services to Sri Lankan nationals.
The consulate opened on Wednesday. Honorary Consul Pily Wong said the two nations share long-standing spiritual and cultural ties rooted in Buddhism.
“We will work tirelessly to promote bilateral trade, encourage cross-border investment and stimulate tourism, ensuring that the economic growth of both Cambodia and Sri Lanka is truly a shared prosperity,” Wong said, describing the office as a resource for Sri Lankans living in or visiting Cambodia.
Trade already growing
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Cambodia, E.A.S Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, called the inauguration “more than the opening of a diplomatic office”, describing it as “a permanent bridge that will further enhance and renew ties between two nations”.
Sri Lankan exports to Cambodia rose significantly in 2024, she said, with apparel, rubber products, electronic equipment, Ceylon tea and food products finding new opportunities in the market. Imports from Cambodia have also grown steadily.
A Sri Lankan business delegation led by the Greater Mekong Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce visited Cambodia last year, meeting the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, the Cambodian Investment Board and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Edirisinghe said there remains “tremendous potential” for deeper collaboration in trade and investment, tourism, education, culture, agriculture, digital innovation and connectivity.
She pointed to momentum built through high-level exchanges, including the 2019 official visit to Cambodia by then-President Maithripala Sirisena and a memorandum of understanding on bilateral political consultations.
Phnom Penh’s response
Un Kheang, Secretary of State at Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the consulate would serve as an effective bridge by promoting economic, educational and cultural cooperation alongside consular support.
He said Cambodia and Sri Lanka have consistently backed each other in regional and multilateral forums, reflecting a shared commitment to dialogue, multilateralism and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and that his ministry stands ready to support the consulate’s work.
No trade-volume figures for the bilateral relationship were released at the opening.
Sources: Ada Derana.
