Discussion on the “Turks and Sri Lankans: Through Historical Links to the Future”

A discussion on the “Turks and Sri Lankans: Through Historical Links to the Future” was held at the Blue Room, Department of International Relations of Middle East Technical University, Ankara on  Monday the 19th June 2017, from 14.30 to 16.30.

Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bagci, Chairman of the Department of International Relations of the Middle East technical University presided over the discussion. Prof. Dr. Shahul Hameed Hasbullah from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, did a presentation on the documented historical links dating back to 1601, the causes and sources to believe that undocumented deeper links were available, reasons for lack of available documented evidence and need to engage in joint researches to unearth the hidden details of historical links between the two nations.

A former Foreign Minister of Turkey, the First ever Turkish Ambassador to Sri Lanka, members of the Diplomatic Community, members of the Turkish Foreign Service, retired Ambassadors, members of prominent think-tanks and journalists were amongst the participants.

The Sri Lankan Ambassador to Turkey, H. E.  P. M. Amza referred to the discussion as the inaugural accomplishment in the efforts to launch a joint research to trace historical links between Sri Lanka and Turkey.