Lumina ballroom stage lit up beautifully when the dancers performing entered Cinnamon Life’s most favoured ballroom at a grand show of culture and socializing when the gala evening took place, after a day- long China Sri Lanka Maldives Forum earlier in the day, held under the auspices of Prime Minister Harini Amerasinghe.
The Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Sri Lanka jointly invited delegates to ‘China- Sri Lanka- Maldives Tourism Forum’ for the day’s programme on June 16th at Cinnamon Life.
In the morning session, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to developing community-based and rural tourism at this inaugural Forum under the theme “Connectivity and Collaborative Success along the Silk Road.”
In her address she highlighted the Government’s vision of a tourism sector that not only drives economic growth, but also empowers rural communities, protects ecosystems, and preserves cultural heritage.
“Our focus is on building a tourism industry that supports women entrepreneurs, youth participation, and eco-tourism, while strengthening the capacity of local tourism service providers. Tourism must reach beyond the cities and touch underrepresented regions, ensuring benefits flow to rural communities.”
The Prime Minister also underlined the value of regional cooperation, calling for collaboration in visa streamlining, health and safety standards, digital infrastructure, and joint marketing strategies. She noted that working with China and the Maldives presents valuable opportunities to elevate the tourism industry in all three countries. In a broader context, she described tourism as a tool for peace building and human connection, stating, “In a divided world, tourism opens pathways to unite across borders, cultures, and generations.”
The evening’s event attended by Chinese and Maldivian diplomatic representatives, senior officials from the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and other invited dignitaries were hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka, Ministry of Tourism and Environment of Maldives, the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka and Chinese Embassy in Maldives.
The evening’s programme was a celebration of regional tourism between China, Sri Lanka and the Maldives through cultural exchange, fine dining and making meaningful connections with tourism stake holders.
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