News
India–Sri Lanka Business Forum highlights new momentum in trade, investment and connectivity
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), organised the India–Sri Lanka Business Forum: Partnering in Sri Lanka’s Growth and Investment and the CII – Ceylon Chamber CEOs Interaction, in Mumbai, on 13 May, 2026. The events brought together senior government representatives, industry leaders, policymakers, and business delegates from India and Sri Lanka to deepen economic engagement and explore new avenues for cooperation across priority sectors.
The discussions reflected growing optimism about India-Sri Lanka economic relations and focused on expanding collaboration in trade, investments, connectivity, tourism, renewable energy, logistics, digital transformation, infrastructure, healthcare, education, manufacturing, and technology.
Participants included Mahishini Colonne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India; Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Economic Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka; Dr Rajesh Ravindra Gawande, Secretary (Protocol, FDI, Diaspora & Outreach) and Chief of Protocol, Government of Maharashtra; Priyanga Wickramasinghe, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai; Krishan Balendra, Chairperson, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Chairperson, John Keells Holdings PLC; Anurag Agarwal, Co-chairman, CII Western Region Sub-committee on International Trade & Investment and Chief Executive Officer, Polycab India Ltd; Vishal Kamat, Chairman, CII Western Region Sub-Committee on Tourism and Hospitality and Executive Director, Kamat Hotels India Ltd; Bingumal Thewarathanthti, Vice Chairperson of the Ceylon Chamber and CEO Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka, Vinod Hirdaramani – Deputy Vice Chairperson of the Ceylon Chamber and Chairman Hirdaramani Group, and Mr Shiran Fernando, Secretary General & CEO of the Ceylon Chamber.
Welcoming the delegates, Anurag Agarwal, highlighted the growing momentum in India–Sri Lanka economic relations and the emergence of future-oriented sectors driving bilateral cooperation.
He noted that India and Sri Lanka are at an important phase of economic collaboration, where connectivity, investments, innovation, and sustainable partnerships are creating new opportunities for shared growth. He further emphasised the significant potential for deeper engagement in sectors such as renewable energy, tourism, ICT, logistics, digital services, healthcare, manufacturing, education, and infrastructure.
Agarwal also stated that improved maritime connectivity, ferry services, enhanced air links, and digital payment integration are strengthening ease of doing business and regional commerce. He reiterated CII’s commitment towards facilitating greater business-to-business engagement, investment partnerships, and sectoral cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
Addressing the forum, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Mahishini Colonne said, “The sectors represented here – renewable energy, infrastructure, technology, tourism, financial services, logistics, manufacturing and digital innovation – reflect where the next phase of India-Sri Lanka economic cooperation will increasingly be shaped. This is not simply about increasing trade volumes. It is about building long-term partnerships, joint ventures, regional value chains, technology collaborations, skills partnership and stronger private sector connectivity between our two countries”.
Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Economic Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka, stated that “Sri Lanka has shifted from economic stability to growth. As we shift into a sustainable growth path, India will be a key partner in our efforts to drive trade, investment and tourism. We invite investment from India into high growth sectors such as transport and logistics, digital services, tourism and high-value manufacturing.”
Speaking during the forum, Krishan Balendra, Chairperson, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Chairperson, John Keells Holdings PLC, said “At the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, we see our role as going beyond facilitation. We aim to be an active catalyst and bridge, bringing together businesses, enabling partnerships, and supporting investment flows that contribute meaningfully to Sri Lanka’s economic transformation. Sri Lanka is now pivoting towards a growth oriented future. In this context, India is not just a neighbour, but a critical partner.”
The discussions during the forum reflected strong optimism regarding the future of India-Sri Lanka economic relations and highlighted opportunities arising from enhanced maritime and air connectivity, digital payment systems, energy cooperation, and logistics integration. The role of tourism, people-to-people linkages, skilling, sustainability, and technology partnerships also featured prominently during the deliberations.
The forum witnessed active participation from industry leaders representing sectors including infrastructure, hospitality, logistics, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, ICT, manufacturing, financial services, and trade facilitation. Business networking interactions and B2B engagements enabled delegates to explore potential collaborations and investment opportunities.
Delivering the concluding remarks, Vishal Kamat, Chairman, CII WR Sub-Committee on Tourism & Hospitality and Executive Director, Kamat Hotels India Ltd, stated that the India–Sri Lanka partnership is entering a new era driven by trust, resilience, connectivity, and shared regional aspirations. He underlined the important role of industry in translating opportunities into actionable partnerships and reaffirmed CII’s commitment towards supporting sustained economic engagement between both countries through policy advocacy, business delegations, CEO interactions, and investment facilitation initiatives.
The India–Sri Lanka Business Forum concluded with strong optimism regarding the future of India-Sri Lanka economic relations and a shared commitment to deepen private sector engagements, strengthen regional connectivity and build long-term strategic partnerships that contribute to inclusive and sustainable regional growth.
Marking the completion of two years of the ‘Vision’ Programme, students from Pinnawala Central College and Matale Siri Seevali College were given an opportunity on Thursday (24) to visit the Presidential Secretariat.
The ‘Vision’ Programme was launched for schoolchildren jointly by the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Education and the Department of Communication of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.
Following a visit to the former Parliament building at the Presidential Secretariat, the students were also briefed on the history of Parliament.
The role of the President’s Fund and its importance to schoolchildren were explained by Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage.
The ‘Vision’ commemorative book, featuring the two-year journey of the ‘Vision’ Programme and its special activities, was also presented to the participating schools.
As part of the programme, valuable plants were also presented to the schools as a symbolic gesture underscoring the importance of environmental conservation.
Director General of Public Relations Dharmasiri Gamage, the Director and Assistant Director of the Tri-Services Security Coordination Unit, the principals and teaching staff of Pinnawala Central College and Matale Siri Seevali College, and students were among those present on the occasion.
President’s Media Division (PMD)
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday vowed that an SJB government would repeal the 22nd Amendment (22A) to the Constitution.Premadasa made the pledge while addressing thousands of SJB supporters who gathered near Parliament to protest against 22A.
Addressing the rally at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, Premadasa said the proposed constitutional amendment would undermine democracy and judicial independence and enable the concentration of political power in the Executive.
“Even if they pass it, under an SJB government we will scrap it,” Premadasa told the gathering, claiming that 22A was aimed at paving the way for a one-party state and placing the State under the control of a single political party.
Braving the rain, Premadasa said they had gathered there peacefully and had no intention of resorting to violence.
“We have gathered here to protect democracy,” he said, challenging the government to hold Provincial Council elections if it was confident of facing the people.
Premadasa said the SJB was prepared to work with any democratic and clean political force committed to the country’s progress and public welfare, amid ongoing discussions on cooperation among Opposition parties, including the United National Party.
Premadasa also accused groups aligned with the government of attempting to discourage people from attending the protest through statements and other measures.
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said the protest had been organised against the proposed amendment, which the party had opposed on the grounds that it could pave the way for authoritarianism.
The demonstration began around 9 a.m. at Polduwa Junction and coincided with Parliament taking up the proposed 22nd Amendment for debate. Proceedings on the Bill are scheduled to continue today (25).
The Supreme Court has determined that the proposed amendment does not require approval at a referendum and could be passed with a special majority in Parliament.
Meanwhile, traffic congestion was reported on roads surrounding Parliament and Polduwa Junction following the demonstration.
Security was also tightened in and around the Parliamentary complex, with a heavy police presence observed at Polduwa Junction and near the main entrance to Parliament.
Two retired female Navy petty officers were ordered to be remanded until October 5 over their alleged involvement in the abduction and disappearance of two women in Trincomalee during the war.
Trincomalee Chief Magistrate M.S.M. Samsudeen yesterday ordered that the two suspects be remanded and directed that they be produced for an identification parade on October 5.
The suspects, residents of Chilaw and Haputale, were arrested after appearing before the CID in connection with another court case. They were subsequently produced before the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court.
The court was informed that the investigation concerned the alleged abduction of Sasikumar Thenmoli and Mary Delsia, residents of Paalaiyootru, Trincomalee, on or around May 13, 2008.
The CID told court that information uncovered during its investigations indicated that the two women had allegedly been detained at an underground location known as the “Gun Site” at the Trincomalee Naval Base while the two suspects were serving in the Navy. The women were subsequently reported missing.
Further investigations into the alleged abduction and disappearance of the two women are continuing.
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