DIPLOMATIC/POLITICAL - BRAZIL 

Diplomatic / Political Relations

• Sri Lanka and Brazil established diplomatic relations in 1960. Both countries maintain resident Diplomatic Missions in their respective capitals. The resident diplomatic Mission of Sri Lanka in Brazil was established in Rio de Janeiro, then the capital of Brazil. Sri Lanka and Brazil completed 64 years of diplomatic relations in 2024.
• However, due to financial constraints, the Mission in Rio de Janeiro was subsequently closed down. Later, under the guidance of late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar, the Sri Lankan Mission in Brazil was re-opened in the new capital, Brasilia on 21 March 2002.
• At present, nine (09) countries in the South American region, namely Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Suriname, and Guyana, are concurrently accredited to the Mission and it is the only resident Diplomatic mission available for the vast South American continent.
• Due to Portuguese colonial influence, Sri Lanka has had some affinities with Brazil, e.g. the Catholic Church and the influence the Portuguese had on language and culture particularly on music and Sri Lankan cuisine.
• The first rubber plant (Hevea brasiliensis) in Sri Lanka was planted on August 12, 1876, at the Henarathgoda Botanical Gardens in Gampaha. These original plants were part of 1,919 seedlings sent from Kew Gardens in England, originating from seeds collected in Brazil by Sir Henry Wickham.
• Establishment of the Rio Buddha-vihara by the Brazil Buddhist Society (Sociedade Budista do Brasil) which was officially founded in 1967, by members of the Theosophical Society of Brazil (TSB) to bring into knowledge all the Buddhist Schools and the culture of Buddhist countries in the world, was an significant millstone of Sri Lanka´s relations with Brazil in the context of cultural and historical similarities between the two countries under the Portuguese heritage as well as historical links associated with the Theravada Buddhism. The Theosophical Society of Brazil (TSB) is determined to promote philosophical principles of Colonel Henry Steel Olcott who is well known in Sri Lanka for his immense contribution to the independence movement of the country and the Theravada Buddhist tradition during the British colonial period in Ceylon.

Sri Lanka Honorary Consulates 

• There are two Sri Lanka Honorary Consulates in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in Brazilia.

Rio de Janeiro
Dr. Sohaku Raimundo Cesar Bastos
Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka

Rua Alice 1150, Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro. CEP 22241-020,Brazil
Tel./ Fax: +55 21 3268 5295
Mobile: +55 21 99203 5383
E-mail: drsohakubastos@gmail.com

Sao Paulo
Mr. Eduardo P. Oliveira
Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka

Rua São Vicente De Paulo 95, Conjunto 21, Santa Cecilia, São Paulo - SP 01229-010 – Brazil
Tel.: +55 11 3865 2060
Mobile: +55 11 99999 9772
E-mail: eduardo@consulankasp.org
Website: www.consulankasp.org

• Given the vastness of the South American continent and taking into consideration the absence of Resident Sri Lankan Diplomatic Missions/Posts established in the South American continent, except the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brasilia, Brazil, the Government of Sri Lanka has established 4 Sri Lanka Honorary Consulates in selected other concurrently accredited South American countries, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Surinama for identified cities under respective jurisdiction in order to facilitate and cooperate with the host Government and authorities to enhance Sri Lanka´s bilateral relations with the country of appointed.
• There are 5 Honorary Consuls from South American countries (Chile, Colombia, Guyana, Peru and Uruguay) in Colombo.

Sri Lanka-Brazil Parliamentary Friendship Association 

• Brazil – Sri Lanka Friendship Group in Sri Lanka was created in 2010 and was re-inaugurated in 2016. Currently both sides consider the re-activation of the group. 

Exchange of High-Level Visits 

The following high-level visits (incoming/outgoing) have taken place, creating the opportunities for further strengthening the existing bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Brazil. 

Outward 

• The visit by Hon. Professor G. L. Peiris, Minister of Justice, Constitutional Affairs, Ethnic Affairs and Integration to Brazil in 1998
• The visit of Hon. Minister of Science and Technology of Sri Lanka, Tissa Vitarana to Brazil in 2005
• The visit by Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama, accompanied by Hon. Minister of Housing Development, Geethanjana Gunawardena to Brazil in 2008
• The visit by H.E. the President, Mahinda Rajapaksa to Brazil on the occasion of the Rio+20 Conference held on 19-25 June 2012
• The visit by Hon. Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris to Brazil in February 2013
• The visit of Hon. Lakshman Seneviratne, Minister of Sugar Industry Development as Special Envoy on 03 February 2014
• The visit by Hon. State Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, V.N.P. Senanayake to Brazil in March 2017
• The visit of Hon. Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries, Lakshman Wasantha Perera to Brazil in May 2017
• The visit by Hon, Gamini Vijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources to Brazil  as head of delegation to the 8th World Water Forum, in Brasília in March 2018

Inward 

• The visit by Special Presidential Envoy, Ambassador of Brazil in new Delhi, Jose Vicente Pimentel to Sri Lanka in 2005
• The visit by Special Adviser on Asia, Ambassador Joao Gualberto Marques Porto, to     Sri Lanka in 2007
• Official visit by Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio De Aguiar Partriota to Sri Lanka in 2011
• Visit by Ambassador Susan Keebank , Secretary for Asia and the Pacific  of the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Brazil in October, 2026.

 Political Consultations between the two Foreign Ministries 

• The MoU on Political Consultations between Sri Lanka and Brazil was signed on 07 March 2011. The 1st Political Consultations were held on 28 November 2022, virtually, 11 years after signing the MoU. 2nd political consultations was held in Sri Lanka at the Foreign Secretary level on 20th October 2026.