Antigua and Barbuda and Sri Lanka have formally established diplomatic relations following the signing of an agreement in Washington, D.C., by Sir Ronald Sanders, Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States, and Mahinda Samarasinghe, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United States.
The new agreement, effective immediately, is expected to strengthen cooperation between the two Commonwealth nations across political, socio-economic, and cultural spheres.
Both countries share a connection through the Commonwealth, with Sri Lanka having hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2013. Antigua and Barbuda is set to host the next gathering of 56 nations in 2026.
Ambassador Sanders highlighted the significance of the move, noting that Antigua and Barbuda and Sri Lanka could work together to ensure the upcoming CHOGM is a success for the organization and its members. He added that Prime Minister Gaston Browne is pursuing diplomatic relations and visa waiver agreements with other Commonwealth countries that do not yet have such arrangements with Antigua and Barbuda.
“These agreements will not only make travel between Commonwealth countries easier, but also strengthen the value of the Antigua and Barbuda passport,” Sanders said.
