The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) hosted a networking evening at Hyatt Centric Janakpuri, coinciding with the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE) 2026, to deepen engagement with the Indian travel trade and strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation.
The event drew more than 200 attendees, including tour operators, travel agents, airline representatives, tourism officials, and media from both countries. Representing the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, Geshan Dissanayake welcomed participants and emphasised the longstanding cultural and economic ties between India and Sri Lanka, noting the growing importance of tourism as a bridge for bilateral cooperation.
The SLTPB delegation, led by Sanjaya Niroshana, Managing Director, included Shirani Herath, Assistant Director, and Priyanga Subhashini, Junior Manager. In his address, Niroshana reiterated Sri Lanka’s strategic focus on India, outlining plans to enhance destination visibility, diversify tourism products, and strengthen trade partnerships.
Darshana Cabraal, Board Member, SLTPB, highlighted Sri Lanka’s year-round appeal spanning beaches, heritage sites, wellness tourism, wildlife, and gastronomy. From the Indian travel trade, Dinesh Kumar, Chairman of the Northern India Chapter of the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), shared insights on the destination’s strong positioning among Indian travellers and encouraged deeper cross-sector collaboration.
Fawzan Fareid, Regional Manager – India, Bangladesh & Nepal, SriLankan Airlines, reaffirmed the carrier’s operational commitment to connecting multiple Indian cities with Colombo and supporting inbound growth.
The evening also featured a cultural showcase by Chandana Wickramasinghe’s Dancers Guild, offering guests a glimpse of Sri Lanka’s artistic heritage.
India remains Sri Lanka’s largest source market for tourist arrivals. SLTPB reaffirmed its intention to sustain this growth trajectory through enhanced air connectivity, trade partnerships, and targeted promotional efforts in 2026.
The networking event set the tone for Sri Lanka’s participation at SATTE 2026, signalling continued collaboration between both nations to advance tourism flows and strengthen economic and cultural linkages.
