The New Zealand High Commission was established in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2021, and its counterpart in Wellington in 2025. Establishing a permanent presence has been a significant step forward in bilateral relations between the two countries, which stem back over 70 years. Dr Anita Perkins spoke to David Pine, New Zealand High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, and Prasanna Gamage, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to New Zealand about this new era in bilateral cooperation. In this article their excellencies’ share their thoughts on top areas of focus during their posting, key issues for the bilateral relationship, and what New Zealanders and Sri Lankans can learn from one another.
