By Mewati Sitaram
The India-Sri Lanka Trade Diplomacy Summit, jointly hosted by World Trade Center Mumbai and the All India Association of Industries (AIAI) in collaboration with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka, brought together diplomats, senior officials, and business leaders at the Centrum, WTC Mumbai. The hybrid summit focused on leveraging the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA) to boost trade and investment while exploring opportunities in spices, technology, tourism, and digital innovation.
The event began with national anthems, a diya-lighting ceremony accompanied by flute music, and the felicitation of Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman of WTC Mumbai and President of AIAI, and Shirani Ariyarathne, Acting Consul General of Sri Lanka. Dr. Kalantri emphasized the need to double the current $5 billion trade volume and called for greater regional cooperation through frameworks like SAARC, APTA, ISFTA, and SAFTA.
Her Excellency Shirani Ariyarathne CG of Sri Lanka underlined ISFTA’s role in strengthening economic integration and urged Indian businesses to explore Sri Lanka’s renowned exports—Ceylon spices, tea, handloom textiles, apparel, and gems. “Partnering with Sri Lankan businesses can open significant opportunities for Indian companies in global trade,” she said, noting that Sri Lanka offers a business-friendly environment supported by robust policies and improved connectivity. She encouraged collaborations in tourism, renewable energy, and technology.
Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, announced initiatives to diversify exports into ICT, electronics, and renewable energy, along with the return of Sri Lanka Expo in 2026 and a business delegation visit for Design Mumbai Expo in November.
Tourism opportunities were highlighted by Buddhika Hewawasam, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, who announced a travel fair from July 31 to August 2 and set an ambitious target of three million arrivals supported by enhanced digital promotion. The summit also featured key announcements, including India’s participation in the Industry 2025 Expo in Colombo, the Disrupt Asia 2025 tech summit, and strengthened air connectivity through SriLankan Airlines.
Suman Udayakumaran, Manager – Western India, SriLankan Airlines, said, “SriLankan Airlines remains a vital bridge between India and Sri Lanka. We operate about 80 flights weekly from 11 Indian cities—including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Trivandrum, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, and Ahmedabad—connecting to Colombo, making travel and trade ties stronger than ever.”
It may be noted that despite holding the position of Acting Consul General, Shirani Ariyarathne has been exceptionally proactive in driving trade and tourism initiatives, playing a pivotal role in generating strong business prospects for Sri Lanka. Her dynamic engagement with industry leaders, consistent participation in strategic dialogues, and hands-on approach in promoting Sri Lanka’s strengths in key sectors such as exports, tourism, and investments reflect her commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. By leveraging platforms like the Trade Diplomacy Summit, she has actively fostered partnerships, encouraged Indian businesses to explore Sri Lanka’s potential, and created impactful opportunities that align with the nation’s economic growth vision.
The summit concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman of WTC Mumbai, followed by Q&A and networking, reaffirming both nations’ commitment to deepen partnerships in trade, tourism, and technology for shared Indo-Pacific growth.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
