ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda and Sri Lanka have officially established diplomatic relations, following the signing of an agreement on Friday in Washington, D.C.
The agreement was signed by Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, on behalf of their respective governments.
“The establishment of diplomatic ties between Antigua and Barbuda and Sri Lanka will enhance the existing friendly relations and cooperation in the political, socio-economic, and cultural spheres for the mutual benefit of the two countries,” said a joint statement from the ministries of the two countries.
The agreement comes as Antigua and Barbuda prepares to host the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Sri Lanka previously hosted the summit in 2013.
“Antigua and Barbuda and Sri Lanka can work together to ensure the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting is a success for the Organisation and all member states,” Ambassador Sanders said.
He said that before CHOGM in Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Gaston Browne was “working toward establishing diplomatic relations and visa waiver agreements with as many Commonwealth countries with which such arrangements do not already exist”.
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