Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath Concludes Successful Official Visit to Belarus
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, successfully concluded an official visit to the Republic of Belarus from May 12 to 15, 2026, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
A major outcome of the visit was the signing of an Agreement on Air Services and two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering Cooperation in Higher Education and Health Care. These agreements are expected to enhance connectivity, academic collaboration, and medical sector cooperation between Sri Lanka and Belarus.
The visit began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Victory Monument in Minsk, where Minister Herath paid tribute to fallen soldiers and acknowledged the resilience of the Belarusian people.
During the visit, Minister Herath held high-level discussions with President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Chairperson of the Republic Council Natalya Kochanova, and Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov. Both sides reviewed the progress in bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties, marking their 25th anniversary last year. They agreed on expanding cooperation further and decided to convene the next Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, along with the third round of political consultations later this year. An invitation was extended to the Belarus Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka, which was accepted.
Minister Herath also held discussions with Health Minister Aliaksandr Khajayeu, resulting in the signing of the Health Care MoU. He visited the Belarusian State Medical University and engaged with education authorities regarding academic cooperation and student welfare, particularly focusing on the approximately 3,000 Sri Lankan students currently studying in Belarus.
In talks with the Transport and Communication sector, Minister Herath proposed the introduction of direct flights between Colombo and Minsk via Belavia Airlines, noting increasing travel demand. It was also highlighted that over 10,000 Belarusian tourists visit Sri Lanka annually, emphasizing tourism potential between the two nations.
The Minister also participated in a business and tourism round-table organized by the Belarus National Export Promotion Center, where opportunities in trade, investment, agriculture, and tourism were discussed. The Belarusian side welcomed Sri Lanka’s decision to offer free Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to tourists from 40 countries, including Belarus.
The visit concluded with a cultural event in Minsk and interactions with the Sri Lankan student community, reinforcing people-to-people ties. The Sri Lankan delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow.
Overall, the visit highlighted a shared commitment by Sri Lanka and Belarus to deepen cooperation in education, health, tourism, trade, and economic development.
