Sri Lanka and Poland mark 50 years of diplomatic relations

Summertime in Poland

This year marks 50-years since diplomatic relations between Poland and Sri Lanka were established and to mark this milestone, a programme titled “Poland Days” is being organised in order that this golden anniversary be celebrated in a fitting manner, the Polish Consul General in Colombo said.

Preliminary discussions regarding the celebration took place recently between Dr. Krzysztof Majka, the Ambassador for Poland in New Delhi concurrently accredited to Colombo, and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, and other VIP’s, during the ambassador’s visit to Sri Lanka in May this year.

Sri Lanka will have the unique opportunity of experiencing a taste of Poland in the last week of August, with a colourful and rich cultural programme being organised by the Honourary Consul-General for Poland, together with the Polish Embassy in New Delhi, and assisted by the Sri Lanka - Poland Business Council.

“Poland Days” will include a Polish food festival at the Summerfield’s Restaurant, Hotel Trans-Asia, from August 23 to 27, an evening of classical music by an eminent quartet of Polish musicians with a special feature being a guest performance by well-known Sri Lankan cellist Dushyanthi Perera, accompanied by Ramya De Livera Perera at the piano. A Polish Executive Chef is also being flown in from Warsaw to overlook all aspects of the Polish cuisine being served at the event. A Poster exhibition titled “The Art of Polish Posters” is also being held along with a Polish film festival.

A beautiful place in Europe

Just 15 years after being freed from Soviet domination, Poland is one of the most beautiful places in Europe and every bit like Paris, Rome or London with its own old world charm.

Its capital, Warsaw is a delightful place – filled with beautiful old buildings, nice clean sidewalks, boulevards, parks, palaces and castles. What a heritage and how organised it has been in preserving the old while bringing in the new.

A pleasant surprise for any Sri Lankan visitor is the Dilmah Tea – Sri Lanka’s most famous tea export has captured a good slice of the Polish market and is a must-have in the many restaurants where jazz, tea or Polish vodka go hand-in-hand. Poland is one of the most successful economies in the region. Poland’s main industry is machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, ship building, food processing, glass, beverages and textiles and main exports being machinery and transport equipment intermediate manufactured goods and miscellaneous manufactured goods. There is a large migration of workers particularly to Britain and Ireland which does not affect the labour market. There are many who work as doctors or work in construction sites, pubs and restaurants.

(From the notes of Business Editor Feizal Samath who visited Poland last year)