Australia and Sri Lanka have built a strong and enduring relationship since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1947. May 2017 marked 70 years of diplomatic ties between Australia and Sri Lanka.
Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited Sri Lanka on 2 November 2017 and held productive discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The visit coincided with the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations and were part of a series of high level visits between the two countries. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visited Australia from 13–17 February 2017 and President Maithrpala Sirisena undertook a State Visit to Australia from 24-26 May 2017.
During the visit, Prime Minister Turnbull and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe witnessed the signing of a bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement, which would establish regular senior officials’ talks to facilitate trade and investment. The Framework follows on from the Joint Declaration on Enhanced Cooperation signed during President Sirisena’s visit to Australia in May 2017.
