French President Emmanuel Macron made a historic visit to Sri Lanka on Friday (28) marking the first time a French President visited the country. During his visit, President Macron held a friendly and successful bilateral discussion with President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The discussions focused on further strengthening the bilateral relations between France and Sri Lanka, especially on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. President Wickremesinghe expressed his appreciation for France’s involvement in international relations, particularly in areas such as climate change mitigation, foreign debt optimization, and support for the Indo-Pacific region.
In light of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery efforts, President Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to support the country, as it ranks as Sri Lanka’s fourth-largest creditor. Both leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in various sectors, including politics, economy, tourism, climate change, sustainable development, and maritime activities.
Specific areas of cooperation were identified for further development, such as the establishment of an educational institute for maritime safety and security, the presence of a French Agency for Development (AFD) in Sri Lanka, and increased diplomatic dialogues at high levels. Additionally, the two leaders discussed curbing ocean-based human trafficking and addressed regional and multilateral interests in the current global context.
President Macron expressed France’s willingness to cooperate with Sri Lanka during its upcoming presidency of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), of which France is a member. President Wickremesinghe also affirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to the Indian Ocean Commission, where France actively participates.
The French President praised Sri Lanka’s agreement to join the Paris Agenda and its dedication to global efforts for a sustainable future. Following the talks, President Macron tweeted about the two countries’ shared goal of an open, comprehensive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, confirming the strengthening of their 75 years of diplomatic relations and opening a new era for their partnership.
The French delegation included Catherine Colonna, Minister of European and Foreign Affairs, Philippe Vigier, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Francoise Pactet, French Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and other advisors and officials. From Sri Lanka, Foreign Minister Ali Sabri, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, and other senior officials were present during the meeting.
