COLOMBO : It is with great honour and privilege that we celebrate the 101st anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Türkiye this year. October 29th occupies a significant place in the hearts of the Turkish people at home and abroad, as it is on this day the stones of future were placed by the heroes of the Turkish nation, especially Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish National War of Liberation and the First President, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Turkish nation, which has always been devout to its independence and freedom, fought against the rule of external and internal forces and triumphed under the leadership of Atatürk, “Father of Turks”. As we move to the second centenary of the Republic, we are filled with pride to celebrate our country, which is established on the ideals and principles of a secular, democratic, modern and prosperous nation.
As the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, it is a great pride and honour to celebrate the 101st anniversary of the Republic on October 29th in Colombo. We deeply appreciate the sacrifices of our forefathers and our people who made relentless efforts to ensure our future.
Türkiye is located at the crossroads of civilisations, bridging Asian and European continents; with its deep-rooted history for over thousands of years, today Turkish nation is living in a modern republic which is a prominent regional power with strong economy and military.
Throughout its history and many milestones achieved, Türkiye has thrived and became a leader in many areas such as defence, technology, education, health, transportation, energy and many more. As we leave behind 101 years of the foundation of our nation, our vision of the “Century of Türkiye” presented by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan provides a comprehensive roadmap for the next century to transform and raise our country above the level of contemporary civilizations.
Surrounded by many conflicts and wars in its region, Türkiye relentlessly continues its efforts for peace and prosperity based on the founding principle of “Peace at Home, Peace in the World”, through its role as a mediator in its region and beyond. Turkish diplomacy extends beyond its 101 years. Türkiye is the third largest diplomatic network in the world with 261 diplomatic missions. We are pioneering numerous initiatives to strengthen peace and stability around the world, advocating for eliminating global injustices and economic inequalities and promoting peace, security, stability and prosperity.
Türkiye, as the Easternmost European and the Westernmost Asian country, has strengthened its strategic relations around the world and promoted multiple initiatives, including “Asia Anew”. Recognising the increasing importance of Asia in global arena, the initiative was announced in 2019 to lay the foundations of a holistic and comprehensive policy towards Asia and the Pacific, with the aim of promoting our relations based on common objectives and interests.
One of the cornerstones of this policy is South Asia and Sri Lanka. As the pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka and Türkiye have enjoyed a peaceful history dating back to 1864. Through the time, our contacts continued to expand and our cooperation was extended to many areas. It is my pleasure to see that we have many historical and cultural common heritage, which brings the hearts of our people closer.
While pursuing its foreign policy, Türkiye has always been identified as a compassionate power and this was reflected in our assistance to Sri Lanka after the 2006 tsunami disaster hit the region. As Türkiye found a warm place in the hearts of Sri Lankan people, the assistance provided by Sri Lanka after the earthquake last year have also touched the hearts of the Turkish people, who will never forget the act of solidarity by the kind Sri Lankan nation and its people.
Türkiye and Sri Lanka are both popular tourism destinations and we had the pleasure to witness increasing interest from Sri Lanka to Türkiye, with the significant role of increasing direct flights between our countries. Turkish Airlines has launched direct flights exactly one year ago today, reflecting the increasing interest both ways and now we have daily flights between our countries. In the period ahead, we aim to reciprocate this interest and hope to increase the number of tourists visiting Sri Lanka. I believe that the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Sri Lanka will attract more tourists in the coming years. Our mutual efforts in this sense would be rewarding for both sides.
Positioned in volatile geographies, Türkiye and Sri Lanka share a similar strategic outlook in terms of international relations and this has culminated to excellent cooperation in international fora. There is always room for carrying Türkiye-Sri Lanka relations to new heights, based on mutual interests and understanding. I would like to reiterate that Türkiye will continue its cooperation with Sri Lanka and its friendly people based on sincerity and solidarity.
We hope that with the new government under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka, our bilateral relations will gain fresh impetus and our cooperation will be strengthened in many areas. There is a strong political desire to deepen our relations in the fields of economy, trade, investments, defence, tourism, culture, education and energy, reflecting the potential of our cooperation. In the period ahead, we aim to continue our efforts increase the awareness about Türkiye in Sri Lanka and vice versa.
On the occasion of the 101st anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic of Türkiye, I am honoured to extend my warm wishes to the friendly people of Sri Lanka and based on the ever-growing cooperation between our nations, I am sure that our friendship will continue to reach new heights based on equal partnership and mutual values.
