Indian business delegation visits Sri Lanka to explore opportunities for cooperation
New Delhi, Mar 28: India and Sri Lanka should enhance cooperation in sectors like healthcare, pharmaceuticals, wellness, infrastructure, and trade.
This was the thrust of the visit by a high-level business and institutional delegation of India to Sri Lanka and its interations with the representatives of the government and industry there.
The visit was conducted by the International Trade & Delegation Federation of Chambers (ITDFC) of India from March 24 to 27, with the objective of advancing bilateral trade, investment, and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
“The visit reflects a shared commitment to strengthening economic diplomacy and fostering sustainable, long-term partnerships,” said a statement issued by the ITDFC here today.
The delegation was headed by Bency George, Chief Operating Officer of ITDFC, and included Indian industry leaders representing key sectors including healthcare, infrastructure, trade, and
investment, it said.
“The mission was designed to facilitate structured engagement, strengthen institutional
linkages, and identify new avenues for economic collaboration,” the statement said.
During the visit, the delegation engaged with senior leadership across the Government of Sri Lanka
and key institutional stakeholders.
A key highlight of the visit was the delegation’s engagement with the Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka, underscoring the importance of the interaction at the highest institutional level, it said.
The delegation also held substantive discussions with senior leadership including Hanif Yusoof, Governor of the Western Province; Dr. Tilan M. Wijesooriya, Secretary General and CEO of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL); Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Mass Media; Mr. Nishantha Jayaweera, Deputy
Minister of Economic Development; and Mr. B.K. Kolita Kamal Jinadasa, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries.
The engagements reflected a strong convergence of priorities in advancing economic cooperation,
facilitating investments, and strengthening sectoral collaboration.
Particular emphasis was placed on
healthcare, pharmaceuticals, wellness, infrastructure, and trade, with both sides reaffirming their
commitment to building resilient, future-ready partnerships that contribute to sustainable economic
growth and regional integration.
Perspectives from Sri Lankan Leadership
Senior leadership from Sri Lanka appreciated ITDFC’s initiative and its structured approach to
advancing economic diplomacy and cross-border collaboration. H.E. Mr. Hanif Yusoof, Governor of the Western Province noted that ITDFC’s approach aligns with Sri Lanka’s vision for investment-led growth, while Dr. Tilan M. Wijesooriya, Secretary General and CEO of the Federation of Chambers of
Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) emphasized the importance of such platforms in
strengthening institutional cooperation and trade relations.
Mr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Mass Media highlighted the relevance of
healthcare collaboration in the current global context, and Mr. B.K. Kolita Kamal Jinadasa, Secretary,
Ministry of Fisheries described the engagement as a progressive step towards enhancing bilateral
economic cooperation and investment partnerships.
Mr. Nishantha Jayaweera, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Government of Sri Lanka further acknowledged that such initiatives open new avenues for sectoral collaboration and sustainable development between the two countries.
In addition to high-level government interactions, ITDFC facilitated focused business-to-business and
institutional engagements, creating a dynamic platform for direct dialogue between Indian and Sri
Lankan stakeholders.
These interactions enabled the identification of actionable opportunities in
medical value travel, cross-border healthcare services, infrastructure development, and trade
expansion.
As a key outcome of the visit, ITDFC extended a formal invitation to Sri Lankan government
representatives and industry stakeholders to participate in SEHAT 2026 – Global Medical Value Travel & Healthcare Investment Summit, to be held in Kerala, India, on July 14–15, 2026. The summit is envisioned as a premier global platform connecting governments, healthcare institutions, investors, and industry leaders, further strengthening international collaboration in the healthcare sector.
Mr. Bency George, Chief Operating Officer, ITDFC, stated:
“This engagement reflects ITDFC’s commitment to advancing structured economic partnerships
through high-level dialogue and actionable collaboration. Sri Lanka remains a key strategic partner,
and this visit has laid a strong foundation for long-term, high-impact cooperation across trade,
investment, and healthcare sectors.”
The visit reinforces ITDFC’s role as a global enabler of economic diplomacy—transforming dialogue
into partnerships and partnerships into measurable outcomes. It is expected to open new avenues of
cooperation and further strengthen the economic relationship between India and Sri Lanka.
