COLOMBO The Ambassador of Viet Nam, Trinh Thi Tam met with the Minister of Agriculture,
Livestock, Land, and Irrigation of Sri Lanka, Hon. K D Lalkantha on February 21, 2025, at
the Ministry in Colombo. The meeting underscored the enduring historical ties between the
two nations and explored avenues for deepening agricultural cooperation given the in the
context the two countries are celebrating the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1970-
2025).
The Vietnamese delegation, led by Trinh Thi Tam, received a warm welcome from the
Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, who fondly recalled the strong
historical connections between the two countries and their respective political parties. The
Minister praised the late President Ho Chi Minh for his pivotal role in Viet Nam’s
independence, his contributions to the Communist Party of Viet Nam as well as his
popularity in Sri Lanka, the region and the world. He also commended Viet Nam’s success in
national construction and development, emphasizing that Viet Nam’s impressive
transformation from a producer of agricultural products for domestic demand to a leading
exporter of rice, coffee, pepper, tropical fruits and many other agricultural products was
noted as a model for Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam extended congratulations to the Minister on his recent
appointment and commended the robust nature of the political and cultural relations as well
as people-to-people links between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka. She highlighted the immense
potential for growth in economic relations, particularly in the agriculture and husbandry
sector, which is a vital component of both nations’ economies. Recalling excellent outcomes
of the visit to Sri Lanka by Viet Nam’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le
Minh Hoan in February 2024, the Ambassador expressed Viet Nam’s willingness to share its
expertise and best practice in post-harvesting and processing technology as well as animal
husbandry, while acknowledging Sri Lanka’s proficiency in tea and coconut cultivation and
processing.
Hon. Lalkantha affirmed the unwavering strength of bilateral relations with Viet Nam,
emphasizing the absence of any obstacles to cooperation in agriculture and beyond. In
response to the Ambassador’s inquiry about cooperation priorities, the Minister identified
food security and safety as pressing concerns for the Sri Lankan government. He requested
Viet Nam’s assistance in reducing production costs for staple crops like maize and onions,
which are currently costly to import. Additionally, he sought Viet Nam’s urgent support in
procuring urea fertilizer, as Sri Lanka prepares for its major paddy cultivation season in
March.
The Ambassador urged the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation of Sri
Lanka to push up the implementation of the Work Plan on Agriculture Cooperation for the
2024-2026 period signed during the visit of Viet Nam’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development Le Minh Hoan. She sought Minister’s guidance on involving Vietnamese
citizens in Sri Lanka’s agricultural plantations and invited the Minister to visit Viet Nam for
further discussions. She emphasized the opportunity to establish market connections for
agricultural products between the two countries and the exchange of plants and breeds
between the two countries. The Ambassador also proposed a tri-party collaboration to
enhance technology and expertise sharing in agricultural production and processing among
Viet Nam, Sri Lanka and a more advanced country in or beyond the region.
Hon. Lalkantha expressed gratitude for the Ambassador’s proposals and welcomed further
discussions with relevant stakeholders. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to
supporting the Vietnamese Embassy and fostering continued cooperation between the two
nations.
This meeting marked a promising step towards enhanced agricultural collaboration,
reflecting the shared commitment of Viet Nam and Sri Lanka to bolster their partnership for mutual benefits
