Thursday May 14, 2026
Thursday May 14, 2026
Friday, 8 May 2026 04:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tô Lâm arrived in Sri Lanka last night on a State visit undertaken at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The visit coincides with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam and follows President Dissanayake’s State visit to Viet Nam in 2025. It also marks the first visit by a Vietnamese President to Sri Lanka in 15 years.
The Government said the visit comes at a time when Sri Lanka is seeking to strengthen economic recovery and expand international partnerships, particularly in manufacturing, exports, tourism and technology cooperation.
Officials expect the visit to support Sri Lanka’s industrialisation efforts and provide opportunities to benefit from Viet Nam’s experience as one of Asia’s fastest-growing manufacturing and export-driven economies. Cooperation in areas including agricultural modernisation, tourism, digital technology and small and medium-sized enterprise development is also expected to feature prominently during discussions.
The official welcome ceremony for President To Lam will be held today at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Dissanayake, followed by bilateral discussions between the two leaders and delegation-level talks covering several areas of cooperation. Several Memoranda of Understanding are also expected to be signed.
President To Lam is also scheduled to address Parliament today and attend a series of engagements, including a trade, investment and tourism forum involving business representatives from both countries. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne are also expected to hold discussions with the Vietnamese President.
During the Sri Lanka–Vietnam Trade, Investment and Tourism Forum, authorities are also expected to announce the launch of direct flight services between Colombo and Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi operated by Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air, alongside the exchange of related agreements.
In line with the State visit of the Vietnam President to Sri Lanka, the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation between the two nations cross multiple sectors,
Among the agreements approved is an MOU on cooperation in information and communication between Sri Lanka’s Health and Mass Media Ministry and Vietnam’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry, aimed at strengthening media and communication collaboration.
A separate cultural cooperation agreement will be signed between Sri Lanka’s Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry and Vietnam’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry to promote cultural exchange and joint initiatives.
Another MOU focuses on religious sector cooperation between Sri Lanka’s Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry and Vietnam’s Ethnic and Religious Affairs Ministry, covering the development of religious education, welfare of religious students, and the promotion and protection of religious practices and traditions.
In the science and technology sector, an agreement will be signed between the two countries’ respective ministries to enhance collaboration in research, innovation and technological development.
In addition, a policing and training cooperation MOU will be established between the Sri Lanka National Police Academy and the People’s Police Academy of Vietnam to strengthen professional training and scientific research in law enforcement.
Addressing the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the agreements are expected to deepen institutional ties and expand cooperation between the two countries in both traditional and emerging sectors, reinforcing broader diplomatic and development relations between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
