Sri Lanka Tourism has secured the Let’s Travel First-Degree Laureate Award at the 6th Let’s Travel International Tourism Forum in Moscow, Newswire reported on Saturday, claiming the top honour among 12 international participating nations.
The forum was held in the Russian capital from June 10 to 14 and attracted more than 511,000 visitors, 180 country and regional stands and 574 participating organisations, the report said. Deputy Tourism Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe led the Sri Lankan delegation, which also included Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Deputy Managing Director Chamila Jayarathna and Assistant Director of Marketing Sasika Jayaweera. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Russia Shobini Gunasekera and First Secretary (Commercial) Sanjeewa Bandara also participated.
On the sidelines, Prof. Ranasinghe held discussions with Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov on tourism cooperation, familiarisation tours for Russian operators and improved air connectivity between the two countries.
The Sri Lankan pavilion featured cultural performances, Ceylon tea servings and exhibits showcasing the country’s beaches, wildlife, wellness and adventure tourism segments. Bureau staff also held business-to-business meetings with Russian tour operators from regions outside Moscow and St. Petersburg, an explicit push to broaden the country’s source base beyond the two main feeder cities.
Russia remains one of Sri Lanka’s largest source markets, with 75,963 Russian arrivals to Sri Lanka recorded year-to-date through late May per the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority figures. Today’s award follows a string of international recognitions including four wins at the SITF 2026 forum in Seoul earlier this month.
Source: Sri Lanka Tourism honoured with top award at Let’s Travel Forum in Russia — Newswire, June 20.
