Norway, today, May 17, marks the signing of the Norwegian constitution that took place in 1814. This is Norway’s National Day and everyone, especially children, celebrate this event with street parades all over the country.
Norway and Sri Lanka have developed strong bilateral relations since diplomatic relations were established in 1952. Our countries share democratic values and interests and are strong supporters of multilateral cooperation and international law, including human rights law and a strong United Nations system. The oceans are of great importance to the past and future of both countries. Norway and Sri Lanka share a strong and common interest in the sustainable management and use of our oceans, as well as the blue economy.
Increasing political ties
Development cooperation between Norway and Sri Lanka dates back to 1967, since the time of the Ceynor Development Foundation which worked towards economic development and social upliftment of economically and socially-oppressed groups among coastal communities in Sri Lanka. After the end of the war, since Sri Lanka became a lower middle-income country in 2010, there has been a gradual reduction in development assistance; but bilateral relations in other areas, such as high-level political visits and economic cooperation, have increased.
Norwegian State Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Marianne Hagan, visited Sri Lanka in March, this year, and announced Norway’s contribution of approximately US$ 7 million for demining work in Sri Lanka. In October, 2018, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visited Norway, reciprocating Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg’s visit to Sri Lanka in August, 2016.
Norwegian State Secretary Jens Frølich Holte visited Sri Lanka in June, 2018, coinciding with the arrival of the research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen. The visit of the research vessel highlighted the importance of sustainable use of the oceans, which is a priority for Norway’s international agenda. The research vessel also helped Sri Lanka to improve resource mapping and management of marine resources.
Kamzy Gunaratnam, the Sri Lankan- born Deputy Mayor of Oslo, visited Sri Lanka in January to share her experiences as a young woman in politics with Sri Lankan youth. Gunaratnam is the head of the City of Oslo’s 17th of May Committee and the official organiser of the National Day’s celebration in the Norwegian capital.
Norwegian development aid
A key focus area in today’s bilateral development cooperation is technical capacity building in sectors where Norway has special expertise, and our bilateral assistance goes through multilateral partners, as well as Norwegian institutions that cooperate with Sri Lankan organisations.
Norwegian and Sri Lankan Ministries of Fisheries collaborated to develop Sri Lanka’s new fisheries policy. Norway’s Institute of Marine Research and its Sri Lankan sister organisation, the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), continue to work together on research and data. The Norwegian Geotechnical Institute collaborates with the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) on warning systems and landslide mapping.
In 2018, Norway extended approximately US$ 6 million to Sri Lanka in development aid in a wide range of programmes ranging from good governance, civil society engagement, women’s empowerment, to job creation. We will also explore further cooperation in areas such as innovation and ocean technology, fisheries and aquaculture, and sustainability of fisheries resources.
A key priority for Norwegian aid in Sri Lanka is to assist in the work for a political solution, national reconciliation, democratisation, and strengthening of human rights. For many years, the Embassy has supported local civil society organisations for efforts relating to freedom of expression, free press, anti-corruption, peace and reconciliation, as well as women and gender equality.
Substantial support is given to the resettlement of internally-displaced persons in the North after the conflict, through the UN’s Development Programme (UNDP), job creation, and livelihood opportunities through UNDP and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Norwegian investments and trade
During recent years, there has been increased focus on business cooperation and promotion of economic interests between Sri Lanka and Norway. The Government Pension Fund Global, which is one of the largest funds in the world, has invested in Sri Lankan companies since 2015. By the end of 2018, it had invested US$ 98.3 million in Sri Lankan stocks.
Trade between Norway and Sri Lanka has increased steadily in recent years. Imports from Sri Lanka to Norway have increased from US$ 20 million in 2010 to US$ 42 million in 2017. During the same period, Norwegian exports to Sri Lanka have also increased.
Two large Norwegian aquaculture projects, Sterner As and Ceylon Continental Seafood, are looking to invest in Sri Lanka. These potential investments could total over US$ 30 million and they could be the two largest aquaculture investments in Sri Lanka.
At present, more than 30 Norwegian companies are based in Sri Lanka. These Norwegian companies vary from hotels and IT companies to boat-building and fish-farming businesses. Together, the Norwegian companies have created around 10,000 jobs in Sri Lanka. Many of these companies were part of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce’s Business Match Making Programme, which lasted from 1994 to 2015.
A consistent partner
Next week, Norway - Sri Lanka ties will further strengthen when Foreign Affairs Minister Tilak Marapana attends the conference, ‘Closing the Gaps in Humanitarian Response to Sexual and Gender-based Violence’ in Norway.
Through our cooperation with Sri Lanka for 70 long years, we have seen the resilience of the people of Sri Lanka to rise up after many challenges, ranging from the Tsunami to the civil war.
In this trying time, it is important for all Sri Lankans to set aside their differences and come together as one nation to take Sri Lanka forward. Norway is committed to be a consistent partner with Sri Lanka for our common future.
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