The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) conducted a three-city Sri Lanka Tourism Awareness Session across New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai from January 7 to 9, 2026, with the objective of reaffirming destination readiness and strengthening engagement with the Indian travel trade and media.

The sessions were led by a senior Sri Lankan delegation including Her Excellency Mahishini Colonne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India; Mr. Buddhika Hewawasam, Chairman, SLTPB; and Ms. Shirani Herath, Assistant Director, SLTPB. Industry representation included Mr. Nalin Jayasundera, President, Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO); Mr. Anura Lokuhetty, Past President, The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL); and Mr. Fawzan Fareid, Regional Manager – India, Bangladesh & Nepal, SriLankan Airlines.

The Mumbai session was attended by Ms. Priyanga Wickremasinghe, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai, while the Chennai event saw participation from H.E. Dr. Ganesanathan Geathiswaran, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Chennai.

The discussions focused on Sri Lanka’s preparedness to welcome Indian travellers, covering key aspects such as air connectivity, accommodation capacity, safety measures, and opportunities for collaboration between Sri Lanka and India’s travel trade. The panel also highlighted the country’s diverse tourism offerings across leisure, culture, wellness, adventure, wildlife, MICE, and destination weddings.

India’s importance as Sri Lanka’s leading source market was strongly underlined during the sessions. In 2025, Sri Lanka recorded total tourist arrivals of 2,362,521, the highest in its history. India contributed 531,511 arrivals, accounting for 22.3 percent of the total, reaffirming its position as the top inbound market.

Addressing the audience, representatives noted that the record-breaking performance reflected renewed traveller confidence and effective public–private sector collaboration. They also addressed recent traveller concerns and outlined steps taken to ensure uninterrupted tourism services and a smooth visitor experience.

The interactive Q&A sessions allowed trade partners and media to engage directly with the delegation, fostering transparency, confidence, and stronger partnerships. The three-city awareness programme forms part of SLTPB’s broader outreach strategy to reinforce positive destination messaging and drive sustained growth from the Indian market.

Sri Lanka Tourism reiterated its commitment to working closely with Indian stakeholders to position the island nation as a preferred, year-round destination, offering rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, warm hospitality, and value-driven travel experiences.