Portugal–Sri Lanka relations
{{Infobox bilateral relations|Portuguese - Sri Lankan|Portugal|Sri Lanka}}
Portuguese–Sri Lankan relations refer to the bilateral relations between Portugal and Sri Lanka. While the two countries do not have embassies in each other's respective capitals, Portugal has an honorary consulate in Colombo. The countries share a long historical relationship.
History
{{Main|Sinhalese–Portuguese War|Portuguese Ceylon}}
The Portuguese first arrived in Sri Lanka during the late 15th and early 16th century. The Sri Lankan Sinhalese of the Kingdom of Kotte would soon clash with the Portuguese, in which the Sri Lankans were defeated and incorporated into Portuguese territory. Later, the Sinhalese defeated the Portuguese in many battles and freed the central regions from Portuguese influence. The Portuguese only maintained control of the coastal regions and were convincingly defeated in more central kingdoms like Kandy and Seethawaka.{{Cite web |url=https://www.colonialvoyage.com/portuguese-ceylon-portuguese-sri-lanka-before-war-dutch/ |title=The Portuguese in Ceylon: The Portuguese in Sri Lanka before the war with the Dutch - Colonial Voyage |date=18 February 2014 |access-date=2019-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913051834/https://www.colonialvoyage.com/portuguese-ceylon-portuguese-sri-lanka-before-war-dutch/ |archive-date=2017-09-13 |url-status=live }} The Portuguese rule- despite only lasting for a century- left an influential legacy in the country, such as the Portuguese naming of Sri Lankans, and the spread of The Catholic Church in the country.{{cite web |url=https://roar.media/english/life/history/portuguese-sri-lankan-surnames-and-their-meanings/ |title=Archived copy |website=roar.media |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206155715/https://roar.media/english/life/history/portuguese-sri-lankan-surnames-and-their-meanings/ |archive-date=6 February 2020 |url-status=dead}} Many modern Sri Lankan names can be traced from the Portuguese, and Catholics formed at least 7 to 10% of Sri Lankan population.{{cite journal|url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/luso_1257-0273_2000_num_7_1_1374|title=The Portuguese Cultural Imprint on Sri Lanka|first=Shihan de Silva|last=Jayasuriya|date=26 April 2019|journal=Lusotopie|volume=7|issue=1|pages=253–259|accessdate=26 April 2019}}
=Modern relations=
Due to their long and historical ties, Sri Lanka and Portugal established relations following the British departure from Ceylon.
Portugal provided unofficial support to Sri Lanka in its war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and provided entirely non-lethal supports throughout the Sri Lankan Civil War.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=50igCgAAQBAJ&q=portugal+ltte+sri+lanka&pg=PA284|title=Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka|first=Patrick|last=Peebles|page=284|date=22 October 2015|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781442255852|accessdate=26 April 2019|via=Google Books}}
Since the 2010s, Sri Lanka and Portugal have increased bilateral relations as part of the re-introduction of Portuguese heritage in Sri Lanka.{{cite web|url=https://www.srilankaembassy.fr/en/page/131-sri-lanka-portugal-bilateral-relations-further-consolidated|title=Sri Lanka – Portugal bilateral relations further consolidated - Embassy of Srilanka - Paris|website=Srilankaembassy.fr|accessdate=26 April 2019}}
In 2019, Portugal condemned the brutal terrorist bombings of Easter Christians,{{cite web|url=https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/antonio-costa-expressa-grande-pesar-pela-morte-de-portugues-no-sri-lanka|title=António Costa expressa "grande pesar" pela morte de português no Sri Lanka|website=SAPO|access-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423122214/https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/antonio-costa-expressa-grande-pesar-pela-morte-de-portugues-no-sri-lanka|archive-date=23 April 2019|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} in which a Portuguese citizen was among the dead.{{cite web|url=https://www.portugalresident.com/2019/04/24/widow-of-man-killed-in-sri-lanka-terror-attacks-returns-to-portugal/|title=Widow of man killed in Sri Lanka terror attacks returns to Portugal|date=24 April 2019|website=Portugalresident.com|accessdate=26 April 2019}}
Diplomatic missions
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.urlaub-sr-lanka.info/sri-lanka-portuguese-arrival-of-portuguese-in-sri-lanka/ Portuguese influence on ancient Sri Lanka]
{{Foreign relations of Portugal}}
{{Foreign relations of Sri Lanka}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Portugal-Sri Lanka relations}}