Sri Lanka strengthens transport cooperation with Russia and Belarus
Daily FT: Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake, led a series of high-level discussions on the sidelines of the International Transport and Logistics Forum in St. Petersburg to advance bilateral and multilateral cooperation in transport, aviation, urban development, and sustainable mobility.
The engagements, held with counterparts from Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, focused on expanding connectivity, modernizing urban transport systems, and fostering capacity building and knowledge exchange to support Sri Lanka’s transport modernization agenda.
In bilateral talks with Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin, Rathnayake emphasised Sri Lanka’s ongoing transport modernization program, outlining priorities in infrastructure development, urban mobility, and efficiency enhancements. The discussions explored Russian involvement in transport related projects in Sri Lanka, technical collaboration, and knowledge sharing, with a view to strengthening institutional linkages and forging long term partnerships.
A key outcome of the engagements was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Training and Capacity Building in the transport sector. The MoU aims to facilitate skill development and professional exchange, highlighting opportunities for Sri Lankan professionals to receive training at the Russian University of Transport as part of broader human resource development cooperation. Additionally, Minister Rathnayake requested the continued operation of Aeroflot flights to Sri Lanka throughout the year to sustain air connectivity for tourism, trade, and people-to-people ties.
On the sidelines of the transport and logistics forum, Rathnayake, engaged with key counterparts from both Belarus and Kazakhstan to advance direct flight connectivity and broader bilateral cooperation. During a meeting with Kazakhstan’s Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev, both parties emphasized strengthening transport and aviation ties, with a clear focus on expediting the signing of an Air Services Agreement to boost tourism and trade between Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan.
Subsequently, Rathnayake held a productive discussion with Belarusian counterpart Alexei Lyakhnovich. The discussions highlighted the prospective signing of an Air Services Agreement to enhance connectivity and mobility, along with exploring capacity-building opportunities, including training Sri Lankan professionals at the Belarusian State University of Transport.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s transport industry is entering a phase of renewed development, supported by increasing collaboration with international partners and a strong policy focused on modernisation. Recent high-level engagements with countries such as Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan highlight the government’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure, enhancing connectivity, and building technical capacity across the sector. Sri Lanka is prioritising improvements in urban mobility, aviation, and logistics systems, which include upgrading transport infrastructure, expanding air connectivity, and adopting modern technologies to improve efficiency and service delivery. Agreements on training and capacity building, along with planned air services arrangements, are expected to further support long-term sectoral growth. The emphasis on foreign collaboration opens a wide range of business/investment opportunities that could be explored by foreign businesses/investors. They could explore prospects in infrastructure development, public transport systems, aviation services, logistics, and smart mobility solutions. The growing focus on knowledge exchange and professional training also creates opportunities for partnerships in education, technology transfer, and specialised services. Also, Sri Lanka’s strategy of leveraging global partnerships to modernise its transport sector is creating a more attractive and business-friendly environment.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20260423/Z_4 |