A key outcome of the consultations was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of a Political Consultation Mechanism, institutionalizing a structured framework for regular political dialogue and cooperation.
The discussions reviewed progress since the inaugural round in 2018 and covered trade, investment, tourism, development cooperation and private sector engagement. Both sides acknowledged the potential to expand bilateral trade and promote innovation-driven business partnerships. Regional and global developments were also discussed, with both delegations reaffirming their commitment to multilateralism and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
New avenues of cooperation were explored in priority sectors including mutual recognition of seafarer training qualifications, vocational education and training (VET), skills development aligned with emerging labour market needs, and meteorological data sharing and capacity building.
The welfare of the Sri Lankan expatriate community in Finland received focused attention. The Sri Lankan side highlighted visa-related challenges faced by students and their families and requested consideration for establishing a visa centre in Colombo, along with streamlining document verification to expedite visa processing.
Discussions also touched on Sri Lanka’s engagement with the European Union, including GSP Plus matters. Sri Lanka expressed appreciation for Finland’s continued support toward the country’s economic recovery and resilience-building efforts, as well as assistance provided following Cyclone DITWAH through contributions to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund.
The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Director General of the Europe & North America Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, while the Finnish delegation was headed by Jari Sinkari, Director General of the Department of Asia and Oceania at Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
