The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Lebanon, Anura Withanage, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Tourism of the Lebanese Republic, Laura El Khazen Lahoud, at the Ministry of Tourism in Beirut. The meeting was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere and marked an important step towards enhancing tourism cooperation between Sri Lanka and Lebanon.

During the discussions, Minister Lahoud shared her vision and ongoing initiatives to further develop Lebanon's tourism sector and highlighted the important role of tourism in promoting economic growth, cultural exchange, and people-to-people connections. She emphasized the value of strengthening cooperation between Lebanon and Sri Lanka in the tourism sector for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Ambassador Withanage briefed the Minister on Sri Lanka's diverse tourism offerings and the growing interest among Lebanese travelers in visiting Sri Lanka. He highlighted Sri Lanka's unique attractions, including eco-tourism, wellness and yoga retreats, cultural and heritage sites, wildlife and nature experiences, beach holidays, adventure tourism, relaxation, and its growing popularity as a destination for weddings and honeymoons.

The Ambassador also informed the Minister of the Embassy's plans to organize a Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Event in Beirut in October 2026, bringing together travel agencies, tour operators, media representatives, members of the diplomatic corps, and key stakeholders from the hospitality industry. He cordially invited Minister Lahoud to attend the event as the Chief Guest, and she expressed her appreciation for the invitation and her interest in supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening tourism ties between the two countries.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss future collaboration in promoting two-way tourism and exploring opportunities for joint promotional activities and exchanges between the tourism sectors of Sri Lanka and Lebanon.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fostering closer relations and enhancing tourism cooperation, recognizing the sector's significant potential to contribute to economic development and to further strengthen the longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and Lebanon.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Beirut

14 June 2026