Denmark – Sri Lanka relations refers to the
current and historical relations between
Denmark
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, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark
, establish ...
and
Sri Lanka. Denmark is represented in Sri Lanka through its embassy in New Delhi, India. Sri Lanka is represented in Denmark through its embassy
Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...
, Norway. Bilateral relations are described as warm for a long time. About 13,000 immigrants from Sri Lanka live in Denmark. President of Sri Lanka
visited Denmark in March 1995.
History
The beginning of the relations between the two countries goes back to the 17th century. In the year 1619, the
Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...
arrived in
Trincomalee
Trincomalee (; ta, திருகோணமலை, translit=Tirukōṇamalai; si, ත්රිකුණාමළය, translit= Trikuṇāmaḷaya), also known as Gokanna and Gokarna, is the administrative headquarters of the Trincomalee Dis ...
with a first ship called "Øresund" under the command of Roelant Cape. This small expedition was a vanguard of another Danish fleet, composed of 4 vessels and 300 soldiers, commanded by
Ove Giedde, that reached the island of Ceylon in May 1620. They wanted to try their fortune in the Asian seas; the Danish expedition occupied Koneswaram temple. It was here that the Danes began the works for the fortification of the peninsula. The Danes were also the first Europeans to settle in the city of Trincomalee in Eastern Sri Lanka
Diplomatic relations between Denmark and Sri Lanka were established on 5 January 1953. In 1959, an agreement on air services was signed. On 16 February 1963, both countries signed an agreement on double taxation. Denmark provided a loan to Sri Lanka in 1968.
Development assistance
In 2003,
DANIDA
Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) is the brand used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark when it provides humanitarian aid and development assistance to other countries, with focus on developing countries. There is no dis ...
assisted Sri Lanka with 156 million DKK for
demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing land mines from an area. In military operations, the object is to rapidly clear a path through a minefield, and this is often done with devices such as mine plows and blast waves. By cont ...
, human rights and conflict resolutions.
On 18 February 2009, during the
Sri Lankan Civil War,
Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs
Ulla Pedersen Tørnæs (born 4 September 1962 in Esbjerg) is a Danish politician, who is a member of the Folketing for the Liberal Party. She previously sat in parliament from 1994 to 2014, and served as member of the European Parliament from 2014 ...
assisted Sri Lanka with 34 million DKK for demining and for the civilians in northern Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission
Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission was established on 22 February 2002 under the terms of a ceasefire agreement signed by the
Government of Sri Lanka and the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE; ta, தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள், translit=Tamiḻīḻa viṭutalaip pulikaḷ, si, දෙමළ ඊළාම් විමුක්ති කොටි, t ...
, as a body that would monitor the ceasefire and enquire into reported violations of the ceasefire agreement. Its members were drawn primarily from
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
, Sweden,
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
,
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark
, establish ...
, and
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
. Following the abrogating of the ceasefire agreement in January 2008, the SLMM announced on 3 January 2008 that it would finally terminate its remaining operational activities in Sri Lanka with effect from 16 January 2008.
Trade
Trade between Denmark and Sri Lanka are described as "impressive". Sri Lankan export to Denmark are mainly rubber tyres, tobacco and clothes, while Danish export to Sri Lanka is fish, milk, hearing aids ( Oticon A/S) and medicaments.
In 2008, Danish export to Sri Lanka amounted 145 million DKK and Sri Lankan export to Denmark amounted 157.9 million DKK.
See also
*
Foreign relations of Denmark
The foreign policy of Denmark is based on its identity as a sovereign state in Europe, the Arctic and the North Atlantic. As such its primary foreign policy focus is on its relations with other nations as a sovereign state compromising the t ...
*
Foreign relations of Sri Lanka
Foreign relations of Sri Lanka refers to the diplomatic and commercial relations between Sri Lanka and other countries. Sri Lanka has stressed its principle of "friendship towards all, enmity towards none" in its diplomacy.
Sri Lanka since the 19 ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Denmark - Sri Lanka Relations
Sri Lanka
Bilateral relations of Sri Lanka