Sri Lanka delegation comprised of Travel & Tourism companies visited GCCI
Ahmedabad, Sri Lanka Delegated comprised of Travel & Tourism companies visited GCCI on 30th July, 2025. The purpose of the visit was to explore Travel & Tourism opportunities between two nations.
The meeting was graced by Ms. Shirani Ariyarathne, Hon’ble Minister Commercial, Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai, Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in the State of Gujarat Shri Rakesh Shah, Ms. Shirani Herath, Assistant Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), Mr. Suman Udhayakumaran, Manager, Western India, Sri Lankan Airlines, Mr. Anura Lokuhetty, Chairman, Asian Council on Tourism and Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry (CACCI) and representatives of various Sri Lanka Travel & Tourism related companies.
Welcoming the delegates GCCI President Shri Sandeep Engineer remarked about GCCI’s extensive work towards the mission of “Grow Business & Transform Gujarat” and its presence as the Apex body of Trade & Industry of Gujarat since the year 1949. He also remarked about GCCI’s different 42 committees & taskforce to carry out its mission and emphasized the role of GCCI Travel & Tourism Taskforce in addressing Travel & Tourism related B2B opportunities.
He remarked about the huge importance of Sri Lanka as a major Global Tourism hub and added that the interaction will lead to exploring many B2B opportunities in Travel & Tourism sector. He appreciated the presence of the delegation of various Sri Lankan Travel & Tourism companies joining in this interaction. He acknowledged the participation of the office bearers and members of TAAI, TAFI, JBN and LBN in this event.
Addressing the participants Ms. Shirani Ariyarathne, Hon’ble Minister, Commercial, Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai mentioned the opportunities of further connect between India & Sri Lanka through Travel & Tourism and how it will lead to exploring different cultures. She remarked about easy connectivity as well as bright future of Sri Lanka Tourism. She also mentioned about rapid economic development of both nations and urge participants to invest in B2B Travel & Tourism opportunities between two nations.
Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in the State of Gujarat Shri Rakesh Shah called Sri Lanka, India’s geographical partner in Tourism and referred the spiritual heritage of Ramayan, Lord Budhdha as well as India & Sri Lanka’s cultural ties. He mentioned Gujarat as the powerhouse for energy, infrastructure as well as possibilities of collaboration in Tea, Textile and Tourism sectors.
Elaborating upon Sri Lanka Tourism, Ms. Shirani Herath, Assistant Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) mentioned in presentation that nearly 56.8% tourists visit Sri Lanka on vacation & pleasure while 5.63% visit on religious, business, sports, health, Ayurvedic and educational areas and 5.50% are covered under MICE category (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions) while about 4.01% come to meet friends and relatives. She also mentioned about share of various airlines like Indigo, Sri Lankan Airlines, Air India etc. She made a presentation about Sri Lanka’s unique and distinctive landscape and culture, its more than 21500 Sq. KM of territorial water. And huge forest cover of 33%.
Mr. Anura Lokuhetty, Chairman, Asian Council on Tourism and Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry ( CACCI) remarked that Travel & Tourism will help improve economy for both nations. He also remarked about excellent infrastructure, connectivity.
In his speech Mr. Suman Udayakumaran, Manager, Western India, Sri Lankan Airlines mentioned about Direct Connectivity between India and Sri Lanka as also between Ahmedabad and Sri Lanka and remarked that this will help give momentum to Travel and Tourism.
The meeting concluded after the Vote of Thanks proposed by GCCI Travel & Tourism Taskforce Chairperson Shri Sanjeev Chhajer.
