Political relations
- The religious and cultural links between Sri Lanka and Cambodia dates back to the 5th Century as the epigraphically evidence suggests that Mahavihara and Abhayagiri of Sri Lanka had made an early impact on the development of Theravadha Buddhism in South East Asia when a substantial part of this region was dominated by the Mon Khmer culture, which later became part of the Khmer empire.
- The historical relations are based on Buddhism as both countries practice Theravada Buddhism.
- Formal Diplomatic Relations, established in 1952, have remained strong and cordial.
- HE the (then) President of Sri Lanka undertook a State Visit to Cambodia in August 2019.
- Then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka met Prime Minister of Cambodia in Hanoi, Vietnam in September 2018 on the side lines of World Economic Forum on ASEAN and Cambodian Prime Minister invited Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to invest in Cambodia. Among other things, it has been discussed about Agreement on Exemption of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports between Sri Lanka and Cambodia and also about formulating individual investment security agreement.
- The two countries engage in cooperation between the defence officials in the field of defence and security in the multilateral fora, specifically the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
- The Government of Sri Lanka has appointed Mr. Pilly Wong, as the first Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Cambodia in March 2026.
Socio-Cultural Cooperation
Buddhist exchange between Cambodia and Sri Lanka is dating back to the 12th century.
- A Sri Lankan Buddhist temple is situated in Phnom Penh – Wat Lanka.
- The then Hon Minister of Justice & Buddhasasana of Sri Lanka visited Cambodia in the beginning of 2017 to extend invitations to dignitaries from both the government and religious institutions for the UN International Vesak Day marked in May 2017 in Sri Lanka. Following this invitation, Cambodian delegations attended the celebrations in Colombo. The official delegation was led by the Minister of Culture & Religion of Cambodia.
- It was also noted during this visit that several Cambodian high ranking officials have spent their temporary priesthood in Sri Lanka, which is an element that could be exploited to develop further relations. Further, there are many exchange visits of monks from Sri Lanka and Cambodia. This aspect would be furthered to enhance religious tourism, which would be relevant to the region considering the number of Theravada Buddhist countries.
Ambassador E.A.S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe presents the Letter of Credence to His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of the Kingdom of Cambodia
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Cambodia E.A.S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, presented her Letter of Credence to His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, at a solemn ceremony on 24th February 2025 held at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.
During the Royal Audience, Ambassador Edirisinghe conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to His Majesty the King. She reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two nations. The King, in response, extended his felicitations to President Dissanayake and expressed confidence in further deepening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Cambodia.
Ambassador Edirisinghe expressed her eagerness to work collaboratively on mutual interests, including trade, investments, cultural exchange, and sustainable development. She highlighted the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation in addressing regional challenges and promoting peace and stability.
Ambassador Edirisinghe reiterated the commitment of Sri Lanka to nurturing its relationship with Cambodia a key partner in the region. As both nations look to the future, the foundation of friendship and cooperation remains steadfast. Ambassador presented a “Punkalasa” traditional grain vase to the King during the Royal Audience.
The visit of Ambassador Wijayanthi Edirisinghe to Cambodia marks a significant step in further strengthening the friendly and cooperative relations between Sri Lanka and Cambodi