Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan have renewed discussions on strengthening aviation, tourism and trade cooperation, with a particular focus on expanding air connectivity between the two countries.
The discussions took place during a meeting held at the Ministry with the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Sri Lanka, Sergey Viktorov.
A key topic of the meeting was the proposal to extend Air Astana’s seasonal services to Sri Lanka into a year-round operation. Currently, the Kazakh national carrier operates flights between Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka during the peak tourist season from December to April. Officials noted that year-round services could significantly enhance tourist arrivals and improve connectivity between the two countries.
According to the discussions, more than 11,000 tourists from Kazakhstan visited Sri Lanka last year, and both sides explored measures to further increase visitor numbers through stronger aviation links and tourism collaboration.
The meeting also reviewed opportunities to strengthen bilateral trade. While Kazakhstan currently imports Sri Lankan tea, both parties discussed expanding trade with greater private sector participation. They also exchanged views on potential cooperation in the energy sector, including Kazakhstan’s ability to support Sri Lanka’s refined fuel requirements.
The discussion was attended by Additional Secretary V. Jehadeesan and Director of Development Planning Ruvini Hettiarachchi, alongside other officials.
