Sri Lanka and New Zealand

Sri Lanka and New Zealand enjoy warm and longstanding diplomatic relations, underpinned by shared values, Commonwealth membership, and strong people-to-people connections. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1961, cooperation between the two countries has steadily expanded across trade, agriculture, education, tourism, security, and sports.

The opening of the New Zealand High Commission in Colombo in 2021 and the establishment of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Wellington in 2025 marks important milestones in deepening bilateral engagement. Both nations remain committed to strengthening political economic, sports, tourism, education, technical, and people-to-people ties.

Key Areas of Bilateral Cooperation

Agriculture and Trade: 

Trade between Sri Lanka and New Zealand is longstanding and continues to expand.

In 2023, New Zealand exported approximately NZD 252 million worth of goods to Sri Lanka. Dairy products accounted for the majority of exports, highlighting the importance of the dairy sector in bilateral trade. Key exports included:

• Concentrated milk products (NZD 237 million)
• Cheese (NZD 2.58 million)
• Poultry (NZD 2.49 million)

In the same year, Sri Lanka exported approximately NZD 41.2 million worth of goods to New Zealand. Major exports included:

• Tea (NZD 6.87 million)
• Knit gloves (NZD 2.18 million)
• Awnings, tents, and sails (NZD 1.75 million)

In 2013, the two countries signed the Dairy Cooperation Arrangement (DCA), strengthening collaboration in dairy sector development. Through this partnership, New Zealand shares technical expertise, supports public-private cooperation, and contributes to the development of a sustainable and productive dairy industry in Sri Lanka.

New Zealand remains an important trading partner, currently ranking 52nd among Sri Lanka’s export destinations globally.

People to People and Cultural Connections

Diplomatic relations established in 1961 laid the foundation for strong and enduring people-to-people links.

New Zealand is home to a vibrant Sri Lankan diaspora community – approximately 24,000, estimated at approximately 0.4% of the population. The community includes Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim Sri Lankans who contribute significantly across sectors such as healthcare, engineering, education, business, IT and retail. A growing number of Sri Lankan students also pursue higher education opportunities in New Zealand.

As island nations and fellow members of the Commonwealth, Sri Lanka and New Zealand share historical ties and common perspectives on multilateral engagement. Sporting connections — particularly cricket and rugby — further strengthen cultural bonds between the two countries and foster goodwill among their peoples.

Development Cooperation and Sustainability

New Zealand supports development initiatives in Sri Lanka focusing on agriculture, climate resilience, and social cohesion.

Through the Dairy Cooperation Arrangement, New Zealand contributes to improving productivity within Sri Lanka’s dairy sector, benefiting smallholder farmers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

New Zealand also supports Sri Lanka through contributions to the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), which assists grassroots organisations in building inclusive communities and promoting social cohesion.

In partnership with non-governmental organisations, cooperation initiatives have included:

• Enhancing agricultural livelihoods
• Improving access to clean water
• Strengthening climate resilience
• Supporting capacity building in carbon market mechanisms

These efforts contribute to Sri Lanka’s broader sustainable development objectives.