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Post Independence Relations |
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Bilateral Cooperation |
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Agreements |
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Trade Relations |
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Tourism |
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Sri Lankan Community in Luxembourg |
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Post Independence Relations
Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations with Luxembourg on 27th July 1972.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Brussels in concurrently accredited to Luxembourg.
The Embassy of Luxembourg in New Delhi is concurrently accredited to cover
diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka.
In June 1995, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar visited Luxembourg.
In May 2002, Governor of the Central Bank of Luxembourg, Mr. Yves Mersch visited Sri Lanka.
He met with Hon. Minister of Finance, K.N. Choksy and delivered a public lecture
at the Centre for Banking Studies. In January 2005,
Mr. Jean -Louis Schilts, Minister of Development of Luxembourg visited Sri Lanka.
In March 2010, Mr. Romesh Jayasinghe, Secretary / Foreign Affairs called
on Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn,
and held official talks with senior officials of the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry.
In March 2011, Mr. Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
visited Luxembourg. During his visit he met Mr. Yves Mersch, Governor of the Central
Bank of Luxemburg and officials of the Luxembourg Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. He also met Mr. Pierre Gramegna, DG/ Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce.
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Bilateral Cooperation
Luxembourg has continued to provide assistance to Sri Lanka, mainly for humanitarian purposes. Luxembourg donated
Euro 421,825.00 in 2010 and Euro 41,991 in 2011 for humanitarian projects in Sri Lanka.
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As Luxembourg is a banking centre in Europe, the Embassy has
coordinated with the Luxembourg authorities to prevent the financial
system of Luxembourg being used by the LTTE or their front organizations.
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Agreements
An Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement was signed between
Sri Lanka and Luxembourg In April 1982. In October 2003 Sri Lanka and
Luxembourg signed as Agreement on Maritime Transport. An Agreement
on the Recognition of Certificates of Competency and Training of
Seafarers for Services on Board Vessels between the Directorate
of Merchant Shipping of Sri Lanka and the
Commissariat Aux Affaires Maritime of Luxembourg was signed in June 2006.
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In May 2011 an Agreement for the Avoidance of Double
Taxation between Sri Lanka and Luxembourg was negotiated and initialed by
Commissioner General of the Department of Inland Revenue of Sri Lanka
Mr. K. M. S. Kandegedera and Head of the International Relations
Division, Direct Tax Administration of Grand Duchy of Luxembourg,
Mr. Geroges Bruch. In July 2011, the Cabinet of Ministers of the
Government of Sri Lanka approved this agreement and currently both parties
are working on the technicalities to sign and implement the agreement.
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Trade Relations
In May 2010, a Sri Lankan business delegation from the Benelux Business
Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce visited Luxembourg. In turn,
several investors from Luxembourg participated in the Belgian trade
delegation visit to Colombo in November 2010. The Governor of the
Central Bank of Sri Lanka Mr. Ajith Nivard Cabraal visited Luxembourg
in March 2011 and participated in a round table discussion titled
‘Investment and Financial Market Prospects in Sri Lanka’ at the Chamber of Commerce of Luxembourg.
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The trade turnover between Sri Lanka & Luxembourg,
which stood at US $ 0.119 Million in 2007 has increased
to US$ 0.228 Million in 2011. The trade balance has been in favor of Luxembourg.
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Live fish have been the main items of export
from Sri Lanka to Luxembourg, which accounts for 42% of the
total value of Sri Lanka’s exports to Luxembourg. Other
items of exports to Luxembourg are furniture, brooms
& brushes and wood products. Imports of molding boxes
from Luxembourg accounted for 30% of the value of total
imports from Luxembourg. Other import items from
Luxembourg are plastic floor covering, cellulose wadding paper and paperboards,
plastic self-adhesive plates, coated paper and paperboard, Taps and Cocks etc.
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Tourism
There has been a considerable increase in Luxembourg tourists visiting
Sri Lanka in the recent past and it is considered as a potential
tourist generating market. The Embassy is promoting Sri Lanka as a
tourist destination in corporation with Luxembourg travel agents.
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Sri Lankan Community in Luxembourg
It is estimated that there are around 50 Sri Lankans living in Luxembourg.
The Sri Lankan community members in Luxembourg also take part in the cultural
activities organized by the Embassy and the Sri Lanka community in Belgium.
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