Sri Lanka and Turkey relations have a deep history dating back to the 19th century and currently enjoy extremely friendly brotherly relations and continue to flourish and strengthen to the benefit of peoples of the two countries. Though there is hardly any substantial documented evidence some historians through some historical traces suggested that there were exchanges even during Selcuk Turks due to spice, Cinnamon trade and religious reasons. During Ottoman Sultan, Abdul Hamid II, perhaps in 1864, established an Honorary Consulate in Galle, Sri Lanka. Further the imperial ship (Ertugrul) while voyage to Japan, was docked for logistical requirement in Colombo on November 1, 1889. Turkey one of the first country to recognize and established formal diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka after Sri Lanka’s independence on 4th February 1948. Ever since, political, economic, cultural, technological bilateral relations by and large people to people to contacts between the peoples of the two countries magnified in many fold. While Sri Lanka celebrates 73rd Anniversary of the Independence this year, Sri Lanka and Turkey reaches milestone of 73 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. Sri Lankans always admire friendship of Turkey as a true friend and Turkey stood by Sri Lankans when in trouble and difficulties. President His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, when he was Prime Minister in 2005 visited Sri Lanka after the Tsunami in 2004 to show the solidarity to Sri Lankan people affected by Tsunami and gifted a housing settlement in “Midigama”, South of Sri Lanka for the families affected by Tsunami which Sri Lankans up to date pay gratitude to the government of Turkey and President Erdogan. Sri Lanka also gratefulness for medical donations dispatched to Sri Lanka recently for the use of government of Sri Lanka’s effort to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The State visit to Turkey by then President H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2008 and official visit of Hon. Mevlut Cavusagolu, Foreign Minister of Turkey to Sri Lanka further strengthened the bond between the two countries. Visionary leadership of His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the 7th Executive President of Sri Lanka through his national policy framework, “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” leading Sri Lanka to achieve desirable goals to make Sri Lanka a prosperous, peaceful and develop country in the region. Friendship between His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa and His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the determination of the two leaders will enhance cooperation in a diverse array of fields and prosper longstanding brotherly relations between Sri Lanka and Turkey.

After regaining of independence in 1948, the formal diplomatic relation between the two countries was established.  The Turkish Mission in New Delhi was concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka while the Sri Lankan Mission in Cairo was concurrently accredited to Turkey. However, when Sri Lanka opened its resident Mission in Tel- Aviv, the relations with Turkey was handled through that Mission until year 2012 when Sri Lanka opened its resident Mission in Ankara.  Following year that was in 2013 Turkey opened its resident Mission in Colombo.

High Level Visits

1. Former Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa visited Turkey in 1986 .The visit has been the first highest level visit to Turkey from Sri Lanka.

2. Immediately after the tsunami disaster in 2005 Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan  visited Sri Lanka bringing aid for the tsunami victims and promised continued assistance towards rebuilding the lives of affected people during talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was then Prime Minister on 10 February 2005. The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the Chief Guest at ceremony held at Midigama in Weligama to mark the commencement of construction of a brand new Model Township in aid of Matara city Renewal Action Programme (McRAP). This is the first ever visit of a Turkish Prime Minister to Sri Lanka.

3. Former Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Mehmet Ali Sahin visied Sri Lanka an Opened the 450-house Turkish Village of Midigama Housing in the Matara District for the benefit of families who were victims of the December 2004 tsunami on 23 December 2006.

4. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Turkey on a four-day official visit on the invitation of Turkish President Abdullah Gul in 2008 when he was President of Sri Lanka. The visit paid by President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka in 2008, has been the first Presidential visit from Sri Lanka to Turkey.

5. Hon. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, paid an official visit to Sri Lanka on 14-15 June 2016 on an invitation extended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera. This was the first official visit by a Turkish Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka.

Agreement/MoUs in Force Between Both Countries 

1. Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the Republic of Turkey.

2. Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the Republic of Turkey.

3. Treaty on Extradition between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Turkey.

4. MoU for Cooperation between the center for Strategic Research of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey and the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Study of the Ministry External Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

5. MoU between the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) of the Republic of Turkey.

6. MoU for Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey on Diplomatic Training, Exchange of Information and Documentation.

7. Twinning Agreement between Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka and the city of Gaziantep of Turkey.

8. Agreement on Trade between Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of the Republic of Turkey.

Source: Alanya Postası

Alanya Posta Media Gevrek Muhabbet this week’s guest on the program, Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ALTSO) Vice President, Sri Lanka Honorary Consul and Antalya Industrialists and Business People Association (ALSİAD) President Ali Kamburoğlu was. While sincerely answering the questions of Posta Medya team, Kamburoğlu also made statements about his future plans. 

‘WHY HONORARY CONSULATE OF SRI LANKA?’
Stating that he had a meeting with the Sri Lankan Ambassador on the advice of Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu about 1.5 years ago, Ali Kamburoğlu said, “I was invited to Ankara and we held our meetings, our relations started to progress in this way. It is an honor and proud task for me. It is a very sacred duty that we can leave to our family. Our ALTSO President Mehmet Şahin and our Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also provided great support. Last week, our Sri Lankan Ambassador invited him and we accompanied his invitation. He handed us our card and we officially started our duty,” he said.

‘WE WILL OPEN OUR OFFICES IN ANTALYA AND ALANYA SOON’
Indicating that they will open an office for the honorary consulate this year, Kamburoğlu stated that they are thinking of opening an office in Antalya and that they will open the Honorary Consulate office in Antalya as soon as possible.

‘REQUESTS OF OUR PRIORITY MEMBERS’
Stating that ALSİAD’s work will be further strengthened, Kamburoğlu said, “Our first aim is to achieve more by multiplying the level we have always been, and our work in this direction continues rapidly. We will try to hold multiple events per month,” he said.
Kamburoğlu said, “Since we are member-oriented in our work, we primarily try to meet the needs and wishes of our members. We have 43 members from all sectors, such as construction, tourism, law and real estate, and we have opened our doors to new members.”

‘SRI LANKA’S COMMERCIAL VOLUME IS VERY HIGH’ Stating that
Sri Lanka has an intense work and raw material resources, Kamburoğlu said, “Cinnamon, Ceylon Tea, Rubber and boat manufacturing are very high in Sri Lanka, so they export their products in terms of raw materials. It is a very powerful island country,” he said.

‘WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TIME SHOWS’
Kamburoğlu conveyed his thoughts on the candidacy of ALTSO President as follows, “I don’t have such a thought in my mind right now, of course, we can’t know what time will show in the future, it’s the best of all. We have signed very good projects with our President Mehmet Şahin, I believe that we have good services. Our breakfast programs started with 20-30 people, and now the halls are overflowing, which makes us very proud and happy.”

‘WE WILL STRENGTHEN RELATIONS’ For this reason, we will increase our success in the cultural and commercial fields together, and we will succeed together,” he said.

This week’s guest of Alanya Posta Medya’s Brilliant Conversation program was Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ALTSO) Vice President, Sri Lanka Honorary Consul and Alanya Industrialists and Business People’s Association (ALSİAD) President Ali Kamburoğlu. While sincerely answering the questions of Posta Medya team, Kamburoğlu also made statements about his future plans. 
Stating that they plan to import a substance called Cocopeat, which is made from the fibers of the coconut produced in Sri Lanka, at the point of agricultural activities, Kamburoğlu said, “This substance prevents excessive water consumption, the supply of this product can be of great benefit. Cocopeat keeps the plants moist and has a high nutritional value. Cocopeat will have a great impact on agriculture, we are considering importing it,” he said.

‘HONESTY AND RELIABILITY IN TRADE IS VERY IMPORTANT’
Emphasizing that first of all, every individual who wants to go into business should be a reliable person, Kamburoğlu said, “The characteristics that every individual who wants to enter into trade should have is honesty, reliability and determination, he should be an apprentice first. I took a step, apprenticed with my father, I learned my job from the basics. After these features, the job comes to you, success finds you.”

Alanya Ticaret ve Sanayi Odası’nda  Başkan Yardımcılığı görevini sürdüren Kamburoğlu, geçtiğimiz günlerde de ALSİAD Başkanlığı görevine seçilmişti.
İş hayatında yaptığı başarılı çalışmalarda adından söz ettiren Kamburoğlu, Sri Lanka Fahri Konsolosu olmasını sağlayan resmi belgeyi Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan adına Dışişleri Bakanı Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu imzaladı. Kamburoğlu belgeyi Sri Lanka’nın Türkiye Büyükelçisi Mohamed Rizvi Hassen’in elinden aldı.

KAMBUROĞLU: “ALANYA’MIZA HAYIRLI OLSUN”

Sri Lanka Fahri Konsolosu olarak atanan Kamburoğlu, Sri Lanka’nın Türkiye gibi bir tarım ülkesi olduğunu belirterek, “Alanya da bir tarım şehri. Tarımsal alanlarda teknik ve ticari işbirlikleri mümkün. Sri Lanka’nın bu konudaki tecrübelerini Alanya’ya taşımaya gayret göstereceğim. İki ülke ilişkileri başta olmak üzere Alanya’nın tanıtımı konusunda da elimden gelen gayreti göstereceğim” dedi.

Kamburoğlu, “Resmi belgemizi aldık ve resmi olarak Sri Lanka Antalya Fahri Konsolosu olarak görevimize başladık.  En kısa sürede ofisimizi de faaliyete geçireceğiz. Dünya artık çok küçük. Ülkeler arasında her an yeni fırsat ve işbirlikleri mümkün. Alanya’mızın turizm, tarım ve emlak olmak üzere bütün sektörlerinin Sri Lanka’da gerek tanıtımı, gerekse pazarlanması konusunda her türlü çabayı göstereceğiz. Görevimiz Alanya’mıza hayırlı uğurlu olsun. Fahri konsolosluk sürecinde hiçbir yardımını esirgemeyen Dışişleri Bakanımız Sayın Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu’na çok teşekkür ederim” dedi.

ALSİAD 12. Term Board of Directors, first of all, Alanya District Governor, within the scope of protocol visits. Fatih ÜRKMEZER visited him. At the meeting, the livelihoods of Alanya; tourism, construction and agriculture sectors were mentioned, information was exchanged about the general situation of Alanya.

The second person visited within the scope of the protocol visits was the Mayor of Alanya, Mr. He became Adem Murat YÜCEL. At the meeting, where the projects in Alanya were discussed, what could be done to take Alanya further was discussed.

Another name visited within the scope of protocol visits is Alanya Chief Public Prosecutor Mr. Celal TEKIN. In the meeting, where the general situation of Alanya was discussed, information was exchanged about plans and projects.

At the general assembly held in Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ALTSO), the 12th term board of directors and association bodies were elected. In the open voting, ALTSO Vice President Ali Kamburoğlu was elected as the 12th Term Chairman of the ALSİAD Board of Directors.

THANKS TO THE PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT

In the statement made on ALSİAD’s social media account, the following statements were made: “We wish success to Mr. Kamburoğlu and his new management, and thank Mr. Akın Tabaklar, who has served as the Chairman of the ALSİAD Board of Directors for 2 terms, and his management for their contributions to our association.”

The 10th of Kamburoğlu Yapı Malzemeleri A.Ş.’s Traditional Plumbing and Ceramic Masters Seminar and Entertainment Night was held at Banana Hotel. Ali Kamburoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Kamburoğlu Yapı Malzemeleri A.Ş., Kaleseramik Sales Manager Tarkan Özdoğan, NSK Armatür Turkey Sales Manager Esat Sarıoğlu, Panel Shower Company Partner Cem Yılmaz and many guests attended.

In the program, a seminar program was held for the participants by various company officials. In his speech, Ali Kamburoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kamburoğlu Yapı Malzemeleri A.Ş, said, “We have brought together water installation and ceramic masters and company representatives on the same platform, organized solution-oriented seminars and achieved many successes.

The construction industry has more than 200 sub-sectors connected to it. “The craftsmen who serve in this sector are as important as the manufacturer for the country’s economy, as they create a demand for the goods and services they produce. I congratulate all our craftsmen who have put their signature under the constructions that make them proud,” he said.The food program continued with the accompaniment of beautiful songs sung by the famous artist Arif Susam.

While the participants of the night were having fun to the fullest, those who attended the night had the opportunity to win many gifts at the gift draw held at the end of the night.

In the statement from ALTSO with the signature of Ali Kamburoğlu , ” Akdağ , which started in the 1990s,Many studies, such as geological studies and planning studies related to the Ski Center, have been inconclusive due to legislative changes and lack of follow-up over the years. ALTSO management, elected under the presidency of Mehmet Şahin, accelerated the process that continued until 2013 and almost came to a standstill. “As Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in 2013, the diversification of tourism product, alternative tourism types and Alanya tourism to 12 months. In the statement, it was stated that studies were carried out to spread the word and that AKDAĞ was a part of this activity, “The archives in Ankara, Antalya and Alanya related to the subject have been scanned. 17.02.Declared as a Winter Sports Tourism Center with the decree numbered 1994/6345 published in the Official Gazette dated 1995 and numbered 22205, it was determined that only the areas where the accommodation facilities subject to the tourism center would be built were taken into account in the planning study carried out in 2001.

‘WE ATTENDED THE FIELD AS ALTSO’
Stating that it was carried out on the field with the Ministry of Forestry General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks Burdur 6th Regional Director Hasan Uysal, the relevant expert of the Ministry of Tourism Zeynep Bulut and an expert team on March 30, 2016, Kamburoğlu continued: “With the positive report prepared as a result of these studies, the requested The area was also separated as a recreation area and it was made ready for the revision of 1/25000 environmental plan and 1/1000, 1/5000 implementation and master development plans. It has been ensured that 42.89 hectares have been added to the recreation area of ​​322 hectares.This development is a historical milestone for the Akdag Project.If the area needed for the ski center had not been added, no one, including the authorized institutions, would not even be able to obtain preliminary permission for planning studies. This additional area has removed the obstacle to the construction of mechanical areas and facilities around the ski area.”

‘OUR PRIDE MINISTER OF FOREIGN HAS LEADED
‘ It was stated that the appropriation was allocated to be used. In the statement, it was also emphasized that Akdağ’s status was changed with the initiatives of ALTSO.