Bilateral Relations

Snapshot of Bilateral Relations

Sri Lanka and Israel maintain friendly bilateral relations, with diplomatic ties established in 1956, and cooperation focused on trade, labour, and tourism, while expanding into new sectors. Israel is an important trading partner, with total trade reaching USD 256.28 million in 2023. Sri Lanka’s exports, mainly diamonds, tea, seafood, rubber, and coconut-based products complement Israel’s exports of industrial and high-technology goods such as machinery, textiles, aircraft parts, and electronic equipment. In 2024, Israel’s imports from Sri Lanka were valued at USD 78.72 million. There is scope to expand economic engagement in sectors such as apparel, agriculture, rubber and plastic products, and gemstones, as well as in areas like agriculture technology, water management, digital innovation, cyber security, and research and development. Tourism continues to support people-to-people links, with 25,504 Israeli tourist arrivals recorded in 2025. Overall, relations remain steady, with opportunities for further growth in trade, investment, and technical cooperation.