Among the potential areas of cooperation, the Sri Lankan foreign minister highlighted the supply of gemstones to Belarus for processing. Sri Lanka is a global leader in the mining and export of gemstones, and the country is particularly famous for its sapphires and rubies.

«We have plans to supply gemstones that can be used in Belarus for further processing,» Vijitha Herath said. «In turn, we expect to increase imports of engineering and agricultural machinery, as well as fertilizers, from Belarus.»

The foreign minister recalled that diplomatic relations between Belarus and Sri Lanka were established in 2000, expressing hope that the current visit would open a new chapter in cooperation between the two nations. «We have held a series of highly constructive and productive meetings — with the Belarusian head of state, the minister of foreign affairs, heads of other ministries and agencies, as well as the business community and tourism representatives. Following these talks, we plan to take even more active steps to advance our bilateral cooperation,» Vijitha Herath emphasized.

During the Sri Lankan delegation’s visit to Belarus, several documents were signed to boost bilateral economic relations. Under one of these agreements, direct flights between Belarus and Sri Lanka will be launched by the end of 2026. «This will enable our country to send more students to Belarusian medical higher education institutions, while allowing Belarus to attract more tourists to Sri Lanka. Thus, the signed agreements pave the way for closer interaction in both education and tourism,» the Sri Lanka’s foreign minister said.