Sri Lanka to enhance involvement in Shanghai Cooperation Organization affairs

Vijitha Herath held constructive discussions with the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Nurlan Yermekbayev, during a meeting at Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.

According to an official statement, the visit marks the first time an SCO Secretary-General has travelled to Sri Lanka, highlighting growing diplomatic engagement between Colombo and the regional bloc.

The talks focused on expanding cooperation between the SCO and its partner countries, with special emphasis on key sectors such as tourism, transport and logistics, and agriculture.

Minister Herath expressed Sri Lanka’s strong interest in becoming more actively involved in SCO-led initiatives. He also requested support in positioning Sri Lanka as an attractive destination for both investment and tourism.

The Secretary-General’s visit included further high-level meetings with Anura Karunathilaka, K.D. Lal Kantha, and Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe.

These discussions explored broader cooperation opportunities across ports development, civil aviation, agriculture, livestock, land management, irrigation, and tourism development.

Officials noted that the visit is expected to further strengthen Sri Lanka’s relationship with the SCO and open new avenues for regional collaboration and economic engagement.