Distinguished citizens,

Dear visitors,

I assumed my duty as the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on 15 May 2024. I am honoured and pleased to represent Türkiye in Sri Lanka, with which we have friendly relations.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1948 after Sri Lanka declared its independence. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ankara became operational in 2012 and the Embassy of Türkiye in Colombo opened in 2013. Mutual high-level visits between Türkiye and Sri Lanka have added significant momentum to our relations.

Our Embassy has been accredited to Maldives since 2021 and we have witnessed many positive developments in our bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979. The first foreign visit of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Republic of Maldives, was to Türkiye in November 2023 after assuming office and this visit has paved the way for a new era in our bilateral relations.

Turkish Airlines separated its Istanbul-Male-Colombo route and launched its direct Istanbul-Male and Istanbul-Colombo flights in October 2023. These direct flights will continue to increase people-to-people contacts between our countries and further enhance bilateral relations in the field of tourism and trade.

Türkiye supports development efforts of Sri Lanka and Maldives in areas of need. The Turkish Red Crescent built a Turkish village in the south of Sri Lanka for those affected by the tsunami and TIKA established a Friendship Village in the northwest of the country for internally displaced people.

Based on its enterprising and humanitarian foreign policy, Türkiye provided Sri Lanka with medical supplies when the Covid-19 pandemic had affected the whole world in 2020. The solidarity and support provided by the governments and peoples of Sri Lanka and Maldives to Türkiye after the devastating earthquake disaster in 2023 demonstrated the humanitarian dimension of our friendly relations with these countries.

Our Embassy will continue to work devotedly in the coming period, as it has done so far, to develop our cooperation with Sri Lanka and the Maldives in every field and to provide consular services to our citizens living in our region.

During my tenure, the doors of our Embassy will always remain open to our esteemed citizens and to the friends of our country. I will be pleased to meet with our citizens on various occasions and to receive their views and suggestions that may be instrumental in enhancing our relations with Sri Lanka and Maldives.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere greetings and best wishes.

Semih Lütfü Turgut

Ambassador