The Republic of Kazakhstan celebrates its 30th Anniversary of Independence on the 16th of December, and on this auspicious occasion, as the Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Sri Lanka, I take honour to congratulate the Republic of Kazakhstan and extend my greetings and heartiest best wishes for the citizens of Kazakhstan.

 

Kazakhstan is located in the heart of Eurasia and is the largest land-locked country with an area of 2.7 million square kilometers and this geographic location influences it a positive asset. For this reason, Kazakhstan isn’t increasingly seen internationally as a land-locked but rather as land-linked country, which acting as a connecting bridge between continents, states and cultures, positioning Kazakhstan as the main strategic bridge between the largest markets in Europe and Asia.

 

Kazakhstan is one of the world’s best-endowed nations possessing world-class deposits of minerals and raw materials, rich in natural resources like oil and gas as well as gold, silver and various other precious metals, placing Kazakhstan among the global top five and providing around 3 percent of the world’s expected oil demand within the next decade.

 

Being the largest country in the region and the 9th largest country in the world makes it very diverse, with a unique nature, culture and weather and each region has its own unique features. Kazakhstan inherited the culture of the ancient Silk Road. 

 

Kazakhstan citizens come from over 100 nationalities which merged to create this unique culture. People have lived in this country for centuries in harmony with nature and the landscape while raising awareness in conserving it for future generations.

 

Coincided with the celebration of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan, in November 2012, the state visit of then President H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa to Kazakhstan, had very fruitful discussions with then-President of Kazakhstan H.E. Nursultan Nazarbayev, and to mark this historic event, several important bilateral agreements were signed, which contributed to greatly enhance the cordial relations and promote investment, trade, tourism and cultural ties, to the mutual benefit of the two countries.  

 

Kazakhstan is actively diversifying and modernizing its economy and had invited Sri Lankan companies to take part in the State Program of Accelerated Industrial - Innovative Development.

 

Cordial negotiations were held on the desire to further promote their aeronautical relations between the two countries in a spirit of cooperation, and a bilateral air services agreement was signed.

 

Despite the fact that the Covid pandemic profoundly affected all of our lives with an unprecedented global crisis, Air Astana launched direct flights between Almaty and Colombo. The inaugural flight KC-167 carrying 157 passengers landed at Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport on the 3rd of December, introducing Sri Lanka as their latest destination. Reciprocal recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates between Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka was established in support of this initiative.

 

Even during the pandemic period, maintaining the highest level of international health guidelines, Air Astana has successfully operated charter flights between Almaty and Sri Lanka during the period February and April this year with almost 3,000 passengers. 

 

It will be my earnest endeavor to foster the economic, political, and cultural cooperation between the two nations as the Honorary Consul and look forward to working in friendship with the country I represent, Kazakhstan, and to strengthen the relationship between our countries, our businesses, and our people. I will continue to support Kazakhstan’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and take this opportunity to extend to the people of the Republic of Kazakhstan my sincere best wishes for continued peace and prosperity and solidarity.