A special discussion was held on Friday on strengthening Sri Lanka’s sports tourism sector, identified as a key segment of the wider tourism industry, Ada Derana reported.
The talks were held by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, and focused on promoting the country as a destination capable of hosting international sporting events and festivals.
What was proposed
Participants discussed developing a formal mechanism to attract state and private sector sponsorship for international sporting events staged in Sri Lanka.
They also considered preparing an annual calendar and a clear timeline for sports competitions and festivals through the year, intended to make the country a more predictable and convenient host.
A further proposal would establish a transparent and efficient process for obtaining approvals from the government institutions involved in organising sports events.
The meeting agreed to set up a destination management office bringing together the relevant institutions and departments responsible for approvals, working to a recognised checklist and set of criteria, with structural changes and funding arrangements to support coordination.
Context
The discussion follows a run of international events staged or announced for the island, including the Colombo Marathon 2026 scheduled for September, the return of the Raid Amazones adventure challenge to Kalutara in November, and free public admission to the Sri Lanka–India Test series.
No officials were named in the report and no funding figures or timelines were given.
Sources: Ada Derana.
