Sri Lankan Prime Minister H E Dr. Harini Amarasuriya during an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, yesterday. Pictures: Rajan Vadakkemuriyil / The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Sri Lankan Prime Minister H E Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has paid tribute to the late Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, describing him as “a visionary leader” and “a good friend to Sri Lanka” whose leadership laid the foundation for the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries.
Visiting Doha to offer condolences on behalf of Sri Lankan President H E Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the government and the people of Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister said the late Father Amir’s contributions extended far beyond economic cooperation, encompassing diplomatic support, education, and people-to-people ties that continue to shape bilateral relations as Qatar and Sri Lanka mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.
In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula yesterday, Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya said her visit reflected the deep respect Sri Lanka holds for the late Father Amir and the close relationship he fostered with the island nation.
“It is a recognition of the contribution made by the Father Amir that I’m here to convey my government’s and our country’s sympathies at this moment,” she said.
“He is someone who had a strong connection to Sri Lanka and, in many ways, initiated that connection. He visited Sri Lanka officially and privately.”
She said Sri Lanka wanted the people of Qatar and Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to know that the country stands in solidarity with Qatar during its period of mourning.
“My government wanted me to be here to let the Qatar people know, let the Amir and his family know, that we stand with Qatar at this moment of grief, and we share their sorrow at the passing of a visionary leader,” she said.
Late Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, accompanied by a high-level delegation, made a historic state visit to Sri Lanka in January 2012 — the first-ever visit by a Qatari head of state to the country.
The landmark visit marked a significant milestone in Qatar-Sri Lanka relations, with the two countries signing nine bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding covering investment, economic cooperation, tourism, education, agriculture and legal cooperation. They also signed an agreement establishing the Qatar-Sri Lanka Joint High Committee to further strengthen bilateral ties.
Reflecting on five decades of diplomatic relations, Dr. Amarasuriya said bilateral ties expanded significantly during the Father Amir’s leadership.
“During the time of H H the Father Amir, relations between Qatar and Sri Lanka strengthened, and several MoUs were signed,” she said.
She highlighted the importance of the Sri Lankan community in Qatar, saying more than 140,000 Sri Lankans currently work in the country, making Qatar one of Sri Lanka’s largest sources of foreign remittances.
“There is a strong connection between the ruling family and Sri Lanka,” she said, adding that the late Father Amir maintained close engagement with Sri Lanka and had contributed significantly to Qatar’s development while nurturing strong ties with South Asia.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged Qatar’s support for Sri Lanka at critical moments on the international stage.
“Qatar supported Sri Lanka during difficult moments when we were under scrutiny at the United Nations,” she said.
“The late Father Amir ensured that Sri Lanka’s interests were represented internationally. He intervened in more ways than one, not just economically or financially, but also as a regional partner. Such partnerships play a major role for us.”
She also credited the Father Amir with transforming Qatar into a modern nation.
“In many ways, the late Father Amir was someone who modernised Qatar. The Qatar we know today is something that he initiated, so it is very much his vision that we see now playing out,” she said.
Dr. Amarasuriya praised his emphasis on education, particularly women’s education and empowerment.
“His contribution to education has been huge for this region,” she said.
“Qatar stands out in this region as a country that has ensured women are in positions of influence, whether in governance or business. In many ways, he modernised Qatar and significantly shaped its image.”
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that bilateral relations would continue to grow under the leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
“His Highness the Amir has also visited Sri Lanka and we are positive about our future relationship as well, particularly in our 50th year,” she said.
While noting that the visit was focused on expressing condolences, Dr. Amarasuriya said Sri Lanka hopes to deepen cooperation with Qatar in the coming years.
She said Sri Lanka is particularly interested in learning from Qatar’s success in international education and hopes to collaborate in that sector.
“I’m particularly keen on looking at Qatar’s model of opening up for international education. This is something Sri Lanka can learn from,” she said.
The Prime Minister also identified investment as a key area for future collaboration, noting that Sri Lanka is seeking partners in logistics, shipping and infrastructure.
“Hopefully, the relationship that has a good, strong foundation can only flourish in the future under the H H Amir as well,” she said.
