Milestones

Milestones

1931

Universal Franchise extended to all people

Universal Franchise extended to all people
At the first election to the State Council of Ceylon (the unicameral legislature) in June..Read More
1945

Free Education Policy in Sri Lanka

Free Education Policy in Sri Lanka
October 1945, the Free Education Policy came into effect;  stating that every child above the..Read More
1947

Diplomatic Relations with Australia

Diplomatic Relations with Australia
Australia and Sri Lanka have built a strong and enduring relationship since the establishment of..Read More
1948

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) gains Independence

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) gains Independence
On February 4, 1948, Ceylon was granted independence as the Dominion of Ceylon. Dominion status..Read More
1948

Diplomatic Relations with India

Diplomatic Relations with India
Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of India established in 1948.
1948

Opening of the first Overseas Mission: the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, India.

Opening of the first Overseas Mission: the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, India.
The High Commission premises today.
1948

Diplomatic Relations with France

Diplomatic Relations with France
Diplomatic Relations with the French Republic established on 27 October 1948.
1948

Diplomatic Relations with USA

Diplomatic Relations with USA
Diplomatic Relations with the United States of America was established on 29 October 1948, with..Read More
1948

Diplomatic Relations with Turkey

Diplomatic Relations with Turkey
Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of Turkey established.
1948

Opening of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in London, United Kingdom

1948

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington DC, USA.

1949

Opening of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Canberra, Australia.

1949

Diplomatic Relations with Myanmar

Diplomatic Relations with Myanmar
Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of the Union of Myanmar established.
1949

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Rangoon, Myanmar.

1949

Diplomatic Relations with Sweden

Diplomatic Relations with Sweden
Diplomatic Relations with the Kingdom of Sweden established on 18 November 1949.
1950

Colombo Commonwealth Conference on Foreign Affairs

Colombo Commonwealth Conference on Foreign Affairs
The Colombo Commonwealth Conference on Foreign Affairs held in January 1950, conceives of  “The Colombo..Read More
1950

Diplomatic Relations with Indonesia

Diplomatic Relations with Indonesia
Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of Indonesia established.
1950

Diplomatic Relations with Norway

Diplomatic Relations with Norway
Diplomatic Relations with the Kingdom of Norway established in October 1950.
1950

Opening of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Opening of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Islamabad, Pakistan.
present day High Commission in Islamabad, opened on 22 February 1950.
1951

The Colombo Plan launched

The Colombo Plan launched
The Colombo Plan launched on 1st July 1951. In 1977, after adopted a new constitution,..Read More
1951

Free Health Policy in Sri Lanka

Free Health Policy in Sri Lanka
The adoption of the Free Health Policy, comprising system of grass-root level workers including Public..Read More
1952

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jakarta, Indonesia.

1952

Diplomatic Relations with Japan

Diplomatic Relations with Japan
Diplomatic Relations with Japan established.
1952

Diplomatic Relations with Italy

Diplomatic Relations with Italy
Diplomatic Relations with the Italian Republic established.
1952

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Rome, Italy.

1953

Diplomatic Relations with Belgium

Diplomatic Relations with Belgium
Diplomatic Relations with the Kingdom of Belgium established.
1953

Diplomatic Relations with Germany

Diplomatic Relations with Germany
Diplomatic Relations with the Federal Republic of Germany established on 9 December 1953.
1953

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tokyo, Japan.

1954

Colombo Powers Conference

The Colombo Powers conference hosted by Ceylon in Kandy from 28 April to 2 May 1954,..Read More
1955

Bandung Conference

Bandung Conference
In April 1955, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) with 29 countries from Africa and Asia, met..Read More
1955

Sri Lanka joins the United Nations

Sri Lanka joins the United Nations
Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, obtained membership of the United Nations on 14 December 1955, along..Read More
1955

Diplomatic Relations with Thailand

Diplomatic Relations with Thailand
Diplomatic Relations with the Kingdom of Thailand established in November 1955.
1956

Diplomatic Relations with Israel

Diplomatic Relations with Israel
Diplomatic Relations with the State of Israel established on 1 June 1956.
1956

Ceylon’s Representative to the UN presents credentials

Ceylon’s Representative to the UN presents credentials
Sir Senerat Gunewardene was appointed Ambassador to the United States in 1953 and served as..Read More
1956

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Paris, France.

1956

First Statement made by Head of Government of Ceylon at UN

First Statement made by Head of Government of Ceylon at UN
Prime Minister, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike was the first Head of Government of Sri..Read More
1957

Diplomatic Relations with China

Diplomatic Relations with China
Diplomatic Relations with the People’s Republic of China established on 7 February 1957.
1957

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing, China

1957

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Egypt

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Egypt
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Egypt
1957

Diplomatic Relations with Nepal

Diplomatic Relations with Nepal
Diplomatic Relations with the Kingdom of Nepal established on 1 July 1957. (In June 2017..Read More
1957

Opening of the Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai, India.

1957

Diplomatic Relations with Malaysia

Diplomatic Relations with Malaysia
Diplomatic Relations with Malaysia established
1957

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Egypt

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Egypt
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Egypt
1957

Opening of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.

1957

Diplomatic Relations with the Soviet Union

Diplomatic Relations with the Soviet Union
Diplomatic Relations with the Soviet Union established on 19 February 1957.
1957

Opening of the Embassy Sri Lanka in Moscow, Russia.

1958

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Canada

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Canada
1958

Opening of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa, Canada.

Opening of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa, Canada.
1958

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Cairo, Egypt.

1958

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bonn, Germany.

1959

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Cuba

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Cuba
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Cuba
1960

World’s First Female Prime Minister

World’s First Female Prime Minister
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was elected as the world’s first female Prime Minister on 21 July 1960…Read More
1960

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) becomes a Member of the UN Security Council

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) becomes a Member of the UN Security Council
Ceylon was elected as a member of the United Nations Security Council in 1960.  Sir..Read More
1960

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) first participated in a United Nations Peacekeeping mission

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) first participated in a United Nations Peacekeeping mission
Sri Lanka first contribution to a United Nations Peacekeeping mission in 1960, by deploying Six..Read More
1961

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Iran

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Iran
Diplomatic Relations with Iran
1961

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the Philippines

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the Philippines
Diplomatic Relations with the Philippines
1961

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Manila, Philippines.

1962

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the European Commission

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the European Commission
Diplomatic Relations with the European Commission established.
1965

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the Maldives

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the Maldives
Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of Maldives established on 26 July 1956.
1965

Opening of the Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland.

1966

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bangkok, Thailand.

1967

Visit of UN Secretary General U Thant to Sri Lanka

Visit of UN Secretary General U Thant to Sri Lanka
The United Nations Compound in Colombo opened on 10 April 1967 by United Nations Secretary-General..Read More
1968

Consulate opened in Sydney, Australia November 1968

1970

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Singapore

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Singapore
Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of Singapore established on 27 July 1970.
1970

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Stockholm, Sweden.

1970

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Kenya

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Kenya
Diplomatic Relations with Kenya
1970

Establishment of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Nairobi, Kenya.

1971

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Kuwait

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Kuwait
Diplomatic Relations with Kuwait established on 19 February 1971.
1971

Opening of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore.

1972

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Bangladesh

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Bangladesh
1972

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Ethiopia

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Ethiopia
Diplomatic Relations with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
1973

Opening of Sri Lanka Embassy in Brussels, July 1973

1974

Sri Lanka presides over Law of the Sea Conference

Sri Lanka presides over Law of the Sea Conference
Sri Lanka’s Hamilton Shirely Amerasinghe, was appointed as the President of the 3rd United Nations..Read More
1975

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Palestine

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Palestine
Diplomatic Relations with Palestine
1976

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Qatar

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Qatar
Diplomatic Relations with Qatar
1976

First Sri Lankan President of the United Nations General Assembly

First Sri Lankan President of the United Nations General Assembly
In 1976 H. Shirley Amerasinghe was appointed as the first Sri Lankan President of the..Read More
1976

Sri Lanka hosts 5th NAM

Sri Lanka hosts 5th NAM
1976

NAM Summit held

NAM Summit held
1977

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Korea

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Korea
Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of Korea established on 14 November 1977.
1978

Sri Lanka for Disarmament

Sri Lanka for Disarmament
Sri Lanka, proposed the first ever United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Disarmament, which..Read More
1979

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with UAE

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with UAE
Diplomatic Relations with the United Arab Emirates established in June 1979.
1979

Opening of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Dhaka, Bangladesh, June

1979

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

1980

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Malé, Maldives.

1981

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Oman

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Oman
Diplomatic Relations with Oman  
1981

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

1982

First UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka

First UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka
3 Cultural sites in Sri Lanka are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List: The..Read More
1982

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Kuwait.

1983

Opening of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai, India.

1985

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) established

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) established
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) established with the signing of the SAARC..Read More
1987

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Havana, Cuba.

1987

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Seoul, Korea.

1987

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat, Oman.

1990

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tehran, Iran.

1992

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the Netherlands

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the Netherlands
Diplomatic Relations with the Netherlands established in November 1992.
1993

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Kathmandu, Nepal.

1993

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in The Hague, Netherlands.

1993

Opening of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

1995

Opening of the Embassy of Sri Lanka and the Permanent Mission to the UN in Vienna, Austria.

1996

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with South Africa

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with South Africa
Diplomatic Relations with the Republic of South Africa established.

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