Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan have held the inaugural round of Political Consultations between their foreign ministries, in what both sides described as a milestone in relations between the two countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism said the consultations began in Tashkent on 9 July 2026 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a formal framework for regular bilateral dialogue and closer cooperation between the two ministries.
The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Aruni Ranaraja, while the Uzbek side was headed by First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhrom Aloyev. The talks reviewed the current state of bilateral ties and identified new areas for partnership.
Foreign Secretary Ranaraja underscored Sri Lanka’s interest in expanding engagement with Central Asia, and with Uzbekistan in particular, citing its strategic position as a link between Asia and Europe and its growing role in regional connectivity.
Both delegations highlighted trade, tourism, logistics and education as sectors with significant potential. They agreed on the need to diversify bilateral trade, increase trade volumes and promote mutually beneficial investment.
On education, Ranaraja noted the long-standing links between the two countries, recalling that many Sri Lankan students had pursued higher education — particularly in medicine and engineering — at institutions in the former Soviet Union, including Uzbekistan. She called for reviving and expanding academic exchanges. The two sides also welcomed scope for deeper tourism cooperation.
