The Palestine–Sri Lanka Friendship Association was successfully reorganized and reactivated during a meeting convened on 17 August 2026 at the Representative Office of Sri Lanka in Ramallah, under the leadership of Farook Mohamed Fawzer, Representative of Sri Lanka to the State of Palestine.
The gathering brought together approximately 25 members representing a broad cross-section of Palestinian society, including academics, journalists, medical and legal professionals, and former mayors. Originally established in 2007 to foster civil society ties between the two nations, the Association's activities had experienced a period of dormancy due to the prevailing conflict and challenging local conditions. The reactivation marks a pivotal step toward institutionalizing and expanding its organizational framework to resume activities in a structured and effective manner.
Addressing the forum on behalf of the organization, the President of the Palestine–Sri Lanka Friendship Association, Mahmoud Abdullah, expressed profound appreciation for the initiative and proactive support extended by Representative Mohamed Fawzer in facilitating the renewal process. Members emphasized the imperative of broadening engagement to encompass academics, professionals, media figures, civil society representatives, and youth, while maintaining seamless coordination between the Association, the Sri Lankan Representative Office in Ramallah, and counterpart organizations in Sri Lanka.
In his remarks, Representative Mohamed Fawzer reaffirmed the Mission’s steadfast readiness to support appropriate initiatives aimed at deepening bilateral people-to-people contacts. He highlighted potential avenues for joint collaboration, including parliamentary and civil society exchanges, academic partnerships, cultural initiatives, and youth-focused programs.
As an initial initiative under its renewed agenda, the Association agreed to organize a nationwide essay competition for Palestinian university students and youth to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s solidarity with Palestine. Designed to raise awareness of Sri Lanka's longstanding solidarity with the Palestinian cause, as well as its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and tourism potential, the competition will be widely publicized across local media, university networks, and digital platforms. Subject to necessary arrangements and approvals, the Association proposes offering the first-prize winner an educational visit to Sri Lanka to further promote youth-to-youth ties.
The successful reactivation of the Palestine–Sri Lanka Friendship Association serves as a timely development in sustaining the historic spirit of friendship, solidarity, and mutual respect between the two peoples. The Representative Office of Sri Lanka in Ramallah will continue to facilitate engagement with the Association to bolster enduring bilateral connections across parliamentary, professional, academic, and cultural channels.
Representative Office of Sri Lanka
Ramallah, State of Palestine
19 August 2026
