The SRI LANKA MICE EXPO 2025 is a great opportunity to engage in business activities at the international level and is also a valuable platform to bring the name of Sri Lanka onto the global stage, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said.

PM Harini Amarasuriya said this is not merely an event, but an opportunity for local entrepreneurs and stakeholders to directly engage in international business activities and to gain knowledge.

She further pointed out that such events create opportunities for Sri Lanka to become a destination for meetings, conferences, and exhibitions.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in the inauguration ceremony of the SRI LANKA MICE EXPO 2025 exhibition held in Colombo today (23). 

The SRI LANKA MICE EXPO 2025 exhibition, organized by the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, is scheduled to be held for five days with the participation of 100 representatives from 30 countries.

The objective of SL MICE Expo 2025 is to establish Sri Lanka as a leading destination in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector. 

Furthermore, it provides an opportunity for both local and international MICE stakeholders to showcase and promote their services, products, and capabilities.

Addressing the exhibition, PM Harini Amarasuriya further said tourism holds a highly significant place in the Sri Lankan economy. 

“In 2024, tourism generated USD 3.1 billion in revenue, while by August of this year alone, USD 2.3 billion had already been earned for the national economy. Tourism is the third largest foreign exchange-earning sector, contributing not only to economic development but also to positive transformation in the national economy.

“The values, geographical location of Sri Lanka, and connectivity with Asia, the Gulf, Western Asia, and beyond, have made it a unique destination for international business events. In addition, the country’s diverse natural beauty, centuries-old cultural heritage, and hospitality offer international business communities a truly remarkable experience,” she said.

PM Harini Amarasuriya went on to note that this exhibition is also an excellent platform to strengthen connections between international buyers and local suppliers.

She further commended the contribution made by this exhibition, organized by the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, to uplift the economy by establishing Sri Lanka as a MICE hub.

The event was attended by the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Dheera Hettiarachchi, Acting General Manager Achini Dandunnage, officials of the institution, and several foreign representatives from 30 countries. (Newswire)

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A MICE Awareness Event was held in Colombo recently, bringing together decision-makers from German companies and their local representatives with the goal of spotlighting Sri Lanka as a rising destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) in Asia.

The event, held under the theme “Host with Impact. Meet in Colombo,” was hosted by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) and the Sri Lanka-German Business Council (SLGBC), with the support of Aitken Spence Travels.

The event served as a strategic platform to promote Colombo as a viable alternative to traditional MICE destinations in the region. By showcasing Sri Lanka’s growing capabilities in infrastructure and hospitality, the organizers aimed to inspire German businesses to bring their regional and international conferences and meetings to the island.

Ambassador of Germany to Sri Lanka and designated to the Maldives, Dr. Felix Neumann, addressed in his special remarks the country’s ambition to host international business events and welcome people from all around the globe. The message was clear: “Sri Lanka has untapped potential as a destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) in Asia, but there is a need to enhance global awareness of Sri Lanka’s growing capability in this sector.”

Building on Ambassador’s remarks, Chief Delegate of AHK Sri Lanka, Martin Klose, outlined the strategy behind this initiative to promote Colombo as MICE tourism destination, especially among the German business community. “Sri Lanka offers an ideal blend of strategic location, hospitality, and cultural richness. Its commitment to quality and sustainability makes it a compelling choice for international business events.”

Acting General Manager of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), Achini Dandunnage, presented the country’s MICE offering, outlining its venue diversity, logistical strengths, and institutional support for hosting large-scale events.

The highlight of the event was an engaging panel discussion featuring:

•  Ambassador of Germany to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Dr. Felix Neumann
• Acting General Manager of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), Ms. Achini Dandunnage
• President of the Sri Lanka-German Business Council (SLCBC) and Vice President of The Hotel Association of Sri Lanka (THASL), Mr. Asoka Hettigoda
• Representative, Managing Director at Aitken Spence Travels and President of The Sri Lankan Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), Mr. Nalin Jayasundera

The panel offered practical insights into the advantages of hosting MICE events in Sri Lanka, with speakers underlining that the country can compete with leading MICE hubs in Asia, provided more international stakeholders recognize its untapped potential.

In his closing remarks, President of the SLCBC and Vice President of THASL, Asoka Hettigoda, thanked the German business community for their presence and encouraged them to convey Sri Lanka’s value proposition to their global headquarters.

The event concluded with a networking session, where attendees had the opportunity to engage with the panellists and explore ideas for organizing their future business events in Sri Lanka.

The MICE Awareness event served as a significant milestone in the Sri Lankan-German Business collaboration and the ongoing efforts by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) and the Sri Lanka-German Business Council (SLGBC) to foster mutual engagement between both countries.

AHK Sri Lanka is part of the German Chamber Network, supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). With 150 locations in 93 countries around the world, the members of the German Chamber Network (AHKs) offer their experience, connections, and services to German companies and companies of the respective partner countries. AHKs are located in all countries of particular importance to German companies and are closely connected to the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) in Germany. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), an entity under the Ministry of Tourism, concluded the Southern Hoteliers Training Program on MICE Tourism held recently in Beruwala.  

According to Sri Lanka’s Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTB), this is one of the series of training programs that SLCB has organized in many parts of the country during the past few years. 

This particular MICE Tourism training programme was organized to create awareness of MICE Tourism among the southern hoteliers and for them to gear up for the upcoming Southern MICE EXPO 2024 to be held from 27-31 May 2024. The expo will be attended by more than 100 hosted buyers across the globe and also 15 international media. 

The recently conducted Southern Hoteliers Training Program was attended by nearly 50 participants from 20 hotels in the southern coastal belt. The one-day event commenced with the opening remarks delivered by Krishantha Fernando – General Manager, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau & consisted of eminent speakers from the MICE industry who are working as DMCs, Hoteliers & also a speaker from the Tourist Police.

The first session on “Presentation skills in pitching for events to your hotel” was done by Shyana Jayalath who is a marketer & a communicator, which was followed by an informative session by Pradeep Ratnayake, Director Tourist Police on “What support the Sri Lanka Police could offer when organizing events”

“How to increase your revenue with MICE/Business Events” was done by Ziyan Ameen, General Manager, Conventions & Exhibitions Division of Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd., Sibi Mathew the General Manager of Taj Bentota did an experience sharing session on handling successful business events. The final speaker for the day was Gihan Samarawickrama, Digital Marketing Consultant, Founder/CEO of the Compere, Head of Sales & Marketing at ARS Healthcare who spoke on “Connecting Digital Marketing for successful MICE/ Business events “

This event also consisted of a practical working group session on “Identifying an Event to position the Southern Region as a MICE hub”. Participants came up with many interesting & creative MICE Experiences that South of Sri Lanka can offer to the MICE Traveler.

All participants were awarded with a certificate of participation issued by the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau. The event concluded with closing remarks from Kumudu Hennedige, Manager of Research Development & Training of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau. (Newswire)

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