

COLOMBO : On Australia Day each year, Australians come together to celebrate our modern, multicultural nation – to reflect on our history and consider the future we want to build.
That future is located firmly right here – in our shared Indo-Pacific region. Australia’s close and enduring friendship with Sri Lanka is vital to building a more open, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific, in which all countries can thrive.
A stronger Sri Lanka is a better partner for Australia and the region. In this respect, Australia has been pleased to support the ongoing stabilisation of Sri Lanka’s economy and to see a promising return to growth in 2024. While challenges remain, we will continue to work with the Sri Lankan Government and private sector to foster inclusive growth from which all Sri Lankans can benefit.
People-to-people ties, through education, tourism, sport and community, lie at the heart of the Australia-Sri Lanka partnership. I am confident these links will not only strengthen but diversify into new areas – such as investment, climate, renewable energy, resources, and gender – in the year ahead.
I am proud of what the governments and people of Sri Lanka and Australia have achieved during 2024 and I am confident we will strengthen our efforts in the year to come.
Happy Australia Day!
