Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has held discussions on the possibility of Sri Lanka hosting the Miss Universe pageant, arguing the event could promote tourism and raise the country’s international profile.
Herath disclosed the meeting in a post on X. He met Olivia Quido, Vice President of Global Partnerships at the Miss Universe Organization, and Caroline Jurie, the former Mrs World 2020 who is Founder and Chairperson of Caroline J Global Holdings (Pvt) Ltd. Also present were Nishan Deepal and Kusal Perera, co-founders and directors of the company.
What was discussed
According to the minister, the talks centred on what hosting a globally televised pageant could do for Sri Lanka — attracting international attention, showcasing the island as a tourism destination, and building a reputation as a country capable of staging large-scale international events.
Hiru News reported the same account, adding that the meeting also weighed the broader opportunities a major international event could create.
What has not been said
Neither report indicates that a bid has been submitted, that a year has been discussed, or that the Miss Universe Organization has made any commitment. No cost estimate, venue or funding arrangement was mentioned, and there is no indication of which ministry or agency would carry the expense.
Host countries typically meet substantial staging and broadcast costs, and the question of who would fund a Sri Lankan edition is unaddressed in both accounts.
A note on sourcing
Both the Daily Mirror and Hiru News published within minutes of each other on Sunday morning, and both accounts derive from the Foreign Minister’s own post on X rather than from independent reporting. They corroborate the fact of the meeting and the names of those present, but neither adds material beyond the minister’s account.
