​On May 8, 2026, Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung accompanied Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on a State visit to Sri Lanka, participating in official engagements of the high-level Vietnamese delegation with Sri Lanka’s senior leadership. Within the framework of the visit, economic, trade, investment, and industrial cooperation continued to be identified by both sides as key pillars of bilateral relations, with significant untapped potential for further development in the years ahead.

As part of the State visit programme, Minister Le Manh Hung attended the high-level talks between Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as well as meetings with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and other high-level diplomatic engagements involving the Vietnamese delegation.

During the talks and official meetings, leaders of both countries reaffirmed the importance they attach to the longstanding friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Sri Lanka. They agreed to further strengthen collaboration in economic affairs, trade, investment, industry, agriculture, tourism, and business connectivity. Both sides also underscored the need to enhance coordination between their governments and business communities to promote trade, investment, and technological cooperation, while creating more favourable conditions for goods from each country to access the other’s market.

The two sides highlighted the importance of expanding substantive cooperation in high-potential sectors, including processing industries, agriculture, fisheries, logistics, renewable energy, tourism, and green transition. 

They also encouraged businesses from both countries to strengthen partnerships, expand investment cooperation, and participate more deeply in regional supply chains. In addition, both sides agreed to foster linkages between startup ecosystems and innovation centres, while enhancing cooperation in the digital economy and e-commerce.

As part of the visit, Minister Le Manh Hung accompanied Party General Secretary and State President To Lam to the Vietnam - Sri Lanka Trade, Investment and Tourism Forum, attended by a large number of government agencies, business associations, and enterprises from both countries. The forum served as an important platform for businesses to explore cooperation opportunities in trade, agro-processing, food production, industry, logistics, tourism, and investment.

Minister Le Manh Hung also accompanied Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in a meeting with Hayleys, one of Sri Lanka’s leading diversified conglomerates, with operations spanning industrial manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, rubber, consumer goods, and renewable energy. During the meeting, the Sri Lankan side expressed strong interest in expanding cooperation and investment in Vietnam, particularly in the areas of industry, logistics, processing, and trade.

Also during the visit, the Minister attended the Party General Secretary and State President’s meeting with the Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka, contributing to stronger linkages between overseas Vietnamese, the business community, and bilateral economic and trade cooperation initiatives.

Through the activities conducted during Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s State visit to Sri Lanka, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade continues to advance the implementation of high-level bilateral cooperation priorities, while strengthening business connectivity and expanding practical cooperation in trade, investment, industry, and tourism, thereby contributing to the increasingly effective, sustainable, and dynamic development of Vietnam - Sri Lanka economic relations.