Colombo summit highlights India–Sri Lanka ties, calls for stronger tourism push

The Global Innovation & Leadership Summit, organised by Zee Media and WION International Media Network, was held last week at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, bringing together leaders, policymakers and business figures from Sri Lanka and India.

The summit recognised selected Indian business leaders for their contributions to innovation and entrepreneurship, while underscoring the importance of cross-border collaboration.

Addressing the summit under the theme “The Island Where India Feels at Home,” Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe highlighted the untapped potential of the Indian outbound travel market.

He noted that while 32.7 million Indians travelled abroad in 2025, only 31,000 visited Sri Lanka. “I feel something is wrong here, and I think there is something to be fixed, which will be our focus in the years to come,” he said, pointing to Sri Lanka’s geographic advantage. He stressed that Indian travellers remain a key pillar of stability for the country’s tourism industry.

Outlining his vision for deeper bilateral engagement, Prof. Ranasinghe said India and Sri Lanka could emerge as a unified economic space, contributing to the growth of the Global South. He identified agriculture, marine industries and the creative sector as areas with strong future potential.

The summit not only honoured Indian entrepreneurs but also reinforced Sri Lanka’s position as a hub for regional collaboration, innovation and leadership, marking a step forward in strengthening bilateral ties and shared prosperity.

The event was attended by Western Province Governor Hanif Yusof, Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santhosh Jha, CEO of Zee Media Sudhir Chaudhary, along with other dignitaries and diplomats.