Sri Lanka obtained observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in 2009. This was due to the strong relationship that existed between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and China at the time. After Sri Lanka received observer status, the other South Asian countries Nepal and the Maldives also received observer status.
After receiving observer status, Sri Lanka actively participated in SCO summits. In 2015, during the Maithri–Ranil government, Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith Perera participated. At the 2023 SCO summit, under Ranil’s government, a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also participated. But at this SCO summit held in China, no representative from Sri Lanka participated.
The 2025 SCO summit was notable because Indian Prime Minister Modi attended. It was a rare occasion when Modi, Xi Jinping, and Trump gathered following Trump’s tariff policy. At this summit, the Prime Minister of Nepal and the President of the Maldives, who also hold observer status in South Asia, participated.
When the Cabinet spokesperson was asked about the Sri Lankan President’s non-participation in the SCO summit, he stated that the President had to undertake several foreign visits, and therefore, he did not participate. However, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the President had not received an invitation to the summit. Some media reported that Sri Lanka did not participate in the summit due to American pressure. If China invited the Nepali Prime Minister and the Maldivian President, there is no reason not to invite the Sri Lankan President. But it is not known whether China understood that if the Sri Lankan President would not participate, then there was no meaning in sending an invitation.
The Sri Lankan President also did not participate in the BRICS summit in Russia earlier. He rejected a personal invitation from the Russian President. China may not have wanted to face such a difficult situation.
However, news sources say that next month, China has invited Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya for an official visit. Harini is known as someone close to America and India. In that situation, China’s invitation to her is somewhat curious. Political gossip also says that there are problems between Harini and the JVP, and there were even rumours that she would be removed from the post of Prime Minister. But this week, Party Secretary Tilvin went to Jaffna and said that Harini would not be removed from the post of Prime Minister. Along with this assurance, Harini’s visit to China is an interesting development.
