On May 21, 2026, concluding his official visit to Sri Lanka, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Nurlan Yermekbayev delivered an open lecture on the theme "15 Years of Partnership: The SCO and Sri Lanka" before the faculty and students of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies.
The Secretary-General spoke about the origins of the Organisation, the stages of its development and its current activities, as well as the priority areas of cooperation, with an emphasis on the experience of interaction with Sri Lanka. He also discussed the work and events during the current Kyrgyz chairmanship and preparations for the upcoming summit in Bishkek.
Nurlan Yermekbayev's address aroused keen interest: during the open discussion that followed the lecture, participants examined the SCO's contribution to maintaining regional peace and stability, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as the Organisation's development prospects. The audience asked questions about possible avenues for Sri Lanka's engagement with the SCO on the economic track, particularly in the context of establishing the SCO Development Bank.
