Belgium – Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations

Historical context 

Relations between Sri Lanka and Belgium have deep historical roots dating back to the 19th century. In 1893, the Catholic Diocese of Galle was established by Belgian Jesuits. Monsignor Joseph Van Reeth from Antwerp was the first Bishop of Galle from 1895 to 1923. Belgian Jesuits founded the leading boys' school St. Aloysius' College Galle, and Sisters of Charity from Brussels founded Sacred Heart Convent Galle, a leading girls’ school, in 1896.

The nuns introduced lace-making and embroidery as a cottage industry to the women of Galle, which is still being pursued as a means of rural livelihood in some villages in Sri Lanka. A group of crochet lace makers was given training in modern techniques by a company engaged in Crochet making in Belgium.

The earliest recorded political contact between the two countries was the voyage of King Leopold II, the then Duke of Brabant, who visited Ceylon in 1864, one year before he ascended to the throne. He toured the island for 16 days and visited, among other places, Galle, Colombo, and Kandy. He had the honour of inaugurating the railway line from Veyangoda to Ambepussa. He also visited the Ramboda waterfalls and the famous Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya.

In 1911, Dr. Kamiel Vermoesen, Professor of Natural Science at the University of Leuven, visited Sri Lanka on behalf of the Belgian Government to study tropical plant diseases, mainly in the coffee plantations. He stayed in Sri Lanka for one year, in Peradeniya.

In 1925, King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth visited the Papal Seminary in Kandy, which was administered by Belgian Jesuit Priests. During this visit, King Albert I planted a tree, 'Amherstia Nobilis' (Pride of Burma), at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya. This tree has presently flourished into a spectacular specimen, with a height of about 15 meters.

Sri Lanka – Belgium Political Relations

The two countries today enjoy friendly relations. Diplomatic relations were established in 1953, and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Belgium was established in July 1973. The Belgian Embassy in New Delhi is concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka. 

The two countries conducted the inaugural bilateral consultations in February 2026 in Brussels. Belgium as a founding member of the European Union has been playing a significant role through the EU system in promoting deeper cooperation with Sri Lanka in many areas of interest including political, economic, educational, cultural, technical, scientific etc. 

High Level Visits

• In March 2001 President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga visited Belgium and had an audiance with His Majesty King Albert II. She also met Hon. Guy Verhofstadt, Prime Minister of Belgium. 

• In October 2004, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Tourism Promotion Anura Bandaranaike visited Belgium.

• In January 2005, Minister of Defence of Belgium Andre Flahaut, visited Sri Lanka. Belgium was one of the first countries to come to Sri Lanka’s assistance at the time of the 2004 Tsunami. Soldiers of the Belgian Army were engaged in the ‘Sri Lanka Southern Coast Reconstruction Programme’. In February 2005, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Karel De Gucht also visited Sri Lanka to support the tsunami recovery efforts and had meetings with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium in her capacity as Head of the Belgian Red Cross, accompanied by the Belgium Minister for Development Cooperation Armand De Decker also visited Sri Lanka in June 2005, to assess the operationalization of Belgium aid on the ground.

• Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Finance visited Belgium in March 2005, and in May 2005, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Tourism Promotion Anura Bandaranaike, and Minister of Trade and Commerce Jeyaraj Fernandopulle visited Belgium. 

• In March 2006, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera visited Brussels. 

• Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama visited Belgium in September 2007. During this visit he called on the Foreign Minister and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Belgium and had an audience with Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid. During a second visit to Belgium in January 2009, he met with Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy and also re-launched the Belgolux -Sri Lanka Business Council. 
• In November 2011, Minister of Industry & Commerce Rishard Bathiudeen visited Belgium, leading a Sri Lankan business delegation. He also held discussions with Mr. Dirk Achten, Secretary General of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Officials of the Belgian Export Financing Department (FINEXPO).

• In January 2015, Foreign Minister Samaraweera visited Brussels and met Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders. 

• In February 2016, Secretary of State for Foreign Trade of Belgium Pieter De Crem visited Sri Lanka.

• Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visited Belgium in October 2016 met with Prime Minister of Belgium Charles Michel. 

• In January 2017, Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake and Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama met with Secretary of State for Foreign Trade of Belgium Pieter De Crem. 

• In February 2017, Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms Thalatha Atukorale met with Minister of Justice of Belgium Koen Geens.  

• Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana met with Foreign Minister Didier Reynders in September 2017.

• In December 2017, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasantha Senanayake met  with President of the Chamber of Representatives of the Belgium Federal Parliament (Speaker of the Parliament) Siegfried Bracke. 

• A 6-member delegation from the Belgium - Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Belgium Federal Parliament visited Sri Lanka in July 2018. The delegation was led by Senator Ms. Petra De Sutter, Chair of the Sri Lanka – Belgium Parliamentary Group.

• In January 2024, Foreign Minister A.M.U. Ali Sabry met with  the President of the Belgium – Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Belgium Federal Parliament Senator Allessia Claes and Members of the Group at the Belgian House of Representatives. 

• In November 2017, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra met with the President of the Belgium – Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Belgium Federal Parliament Franky Demon, Member of the chamber of representatives and Members of the Group at the Belgian House of Representatives. 

Agreement / MoUs signed between two countries

• With a view to strengthen relations, Sri Lanka and Belgium have entered into a number of agreements. The two countries signed an Agreement on Development Cooperation in March 1977, an Investment Protection Agreement in April 1982 and an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement in February 1983. In December 1998, both parties signed an Air Transport Agreement and in March 2001 two agreements were signed to promote investment and to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of technology and financial assistance.

• Another milestone in corporation between the two countries is the agreement signed on Maritime Transport between the Government of Sri Lanka and Belgium in October, 2003. Besides, Sri Lanka and Belgium also have signed a number of ‘specific agreements’ aimed at operationalizing short term projects.

• Sri Lanka and Belgium signed the MoU on Bilateral Political Consultations 18.12.2017 aiming to work towards reviewing the growing economic, political, and development cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the MoU on Bilateral Political Consultations. The first Bilateral Political Consultations was held in February 2026.

Economic Cooperation:

Trade & Investment 

Belgium was the 12th largest export destination for Sri Lanka in 2025. Total exports from Sri Lanka to Belgium amounted to USD 254.44 million in 2025, while total imports from Belgium to Sri Lanka during 2025 were USD 47.31 million. Belgium ranked as the 35th largest import origin for Sri Lanka in 2025.

Belgium is the 5th largest export destination in the EU market for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s exports to Belgium increased by 6.42% in 2025 compared to 2024, whereas imports from Belgium declined by 10.42% during the same period.

Apparel was the main item of export from Sri Lanka to Belgium, which accounts for 49% of the total value of Sri Lanka ‘s exports to Belgium in 2025. Other important items of export from Sri Lanka to Belgium in 2025 were solid rubber tyres, rubber gloves, cigars & tobacco products, tea, coconut-based products, processed diamonds, textiles, spices etc.

Diamonds, pharmaceuticals, manufactured tobacco substitutes, machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical and electronic products, plastic products, food preparations, animal feed, chemicals etc. are main imports from Belgium to Sri Lanka.

Total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows from Belgium up to the first half of 2025 amounted to USD 154.91 million. These investments have generated employment for 4,189 individuals and contributed exports valued at USD 114.82 million. At present, there are 11 Belgian investment projects are operating in Sri Lanka, of which 09 are wholly owned ventures and 02 are joint ventures. Belgian companies have invested in Sri Lanka in diversified areas such as diamond cutting, manufacturing of jewelry, rubber-based products, coir products, food processing, IT, tobacco processing and boats & sails manufacturing.

Tourism

Sri Lanka recorded its highest ever tourist arrivals from Belgium in 2025, welcoming 21,056 visitors and surpassing the previous record of 17,519 arrivals recorded in 2018, reflecting the growing interest of Belgian travelers in Sri Lanka as a destination.