The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Bangladesh, Dharmapala Weerakkody, met with a delegation of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), led by its President, Mohammed Hanif, at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Dhaka on 7 October 2026. The meeting aimed to further strengthen cooperation between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the tourism sector.

The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral tourism cooperation through active engagement between industry stakeholders, with particular emphasis on strengthening institutional linkages, promoting collaboration between travel and tour operators, and exploring opportunities to expand tourism-related business partnerships between the two countries.

During the meeting, High Commissioner Weerakkody briefed the TOAB delegation on Sri Lanka Expo 2027, Sri Lanka's premier international trade exhibition, scheduled to be held from 14 to 17 January 2027 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo. He encouraged TOAB representatives to participate in the event, highlighting the opportunities it would offer businesses and industry stakeholders from both countries to establish direct contacts and develop partnerships, particularly in the tourism sector.

The TOAB delegation, in turn, sought the cooperation of the High Commission in facilitating the participation of Sri Lanka's tourism sector representatives, including travel and tour operators, in the 14th Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair (BTTF 2026), scheduled to be held from 29 to 31 October 2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center (BCFCC) in Dhaka. The fair provides an important platform for promoting tourism destinations, strengthening industry partnerships, and facilitating business-to-business engagements.

Organised annually by the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), the Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair brings together a wide range of industry participants, including tour operators, travel agents, government tourism authorities, airlines, hotels and resorts, cruise operators, and other tourism stakeholders. The event attracts more than 50,000 visitors, providing a valuable platform to showcase tourism products and services and strengthen cooperation among participating countries.

High Commission of Sri Lanka, Dhaka

20 October 2026