Global Innovation Summit highlights Sri Lanka–India collaboration

The Global Innovation & Leadership Summit, organised by Zee Media and the WION International Media Network, was held last week at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo, bringing together policymakers, business leaders and diplomats from Sri Lanka and India to strengthen bilateral ties and promote regional collaboration.

The summit recognised the achievements of leading Indian entrepreneurs for their contributions to innovation and business leadership, while serving as a platform to deepen economic and tourism cooperation between the two countries.

Addressing the summit under the theme “The Island Where India Feels at Home,” Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe underscored the untapped potential of India’s outbound tourism market. While 32.7 million Indians travelled abroad in 2025, only about 531,000 visited Sri Lanka. He described this disparity as an opportunity for growth, noting that India remains a vital and consistent source market for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.

He highlighted Sri Lanka’s geographic proximity and diverse tourism offering as key advantages, stating that visitors can experience heritage, nature, wellness and adventure within a single . He also emphasised the deep cultural ties between the two nations, pointing out that India continues to be the top outbound destination for Sri Lankan travellers, particularly for Buddhist pilgrimages.

Looking ahead, Prof. Ranasinghe called for stronger bilateral cooperation, suggesting that Sri Lanka and India could function as a unified economic zone contributing to the advancement of the Global South. He identified agriculture, marine industries and the creative sector as priority areas for future growth.

Source : Daily News