Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath and Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe have met Nimesha Premachandra, who won the Mrs. Tourism World 2026 title in Manila, NewsFirst reported.
Premachandra won the title in the Philippine capital on 2 October, competing against contestants from about 20 countries. The meeting was held at the Ministry on 9 October.
The awards
Alongside the main title, she received four special distinctions: Ambassador for Education, Best in Runway, Best in Talent – Silver, and the Woman of Influence Award.
What was discussed
The talks covered her experience representing Sri Lanka at the pageant and the awards she received, and explored ways to use her international recognition to promote the country’s tourism industry, showcase its cultural heritage and attractions, and raise its visibility among international audiences.
Premachandra’s advocacy initiative, “Connecting Cultures. Nurturing Future Citizens”, is aimed at promoting Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage, natural beauty and tourism attractions abroad. Her work also covers education, women’s empowerment and the welfare of underprivileged children.
A note on sourcing
NewsFirst attributes its account of the meeting to a post on the Minister’s official X account rather than to independent reporting or a ministry press release. The photograph published with that account shows Premachandra in her sash and crown with the two officials at the ministry, which confirms the meeting took place as described.
Not reported
The filing does not say what practical support, if any, the ministry committed to, whether any formal role such as a tourism ambassadorship was offered, or who organised and funded her participation in the Manila pageant. It does not name the pageant’s organising body, and carries no quote from Premachandra herself.
This report rests on a single verified newsroom. A search of other verified outlets returned no filing on either the Manila result or the ministry meeting.
Source: NewsFirst.
