Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström arrived in the country on Sunday afternoon. This is the first visit by a Swedish foreign minister in seven years.

Ties between the two countries were strained in 2009 when attempts by then Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt to visit the country were denied when his visa was rejected by the Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström is visiting Sri Lanka at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera with the aim of renewing ties between the two countries.

A seven member trade delegation comprising leading Swedish companies is accompanying the Swedish Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka. Being a strong advocate of women’s rights, Minister Wallström is scheduled to deliver a lecture at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies on Monday on the topic Role of Feminism in Foreign Policy: Sweden’s Feminist Foreign Policy .

Minister Wallström is also scheduled to tour Jaffna during her visit to the country.

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