Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath visited the United Arab Emirates from 2 to 3 September 2026.
During the 02 - day visit, Minister Herath, together with the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, graced the Sri Lanka Day event, the second edition of “Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams”, organized by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai, on 2nd September 2026. Minister Herath also had bilateral meetings with the UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, and the UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. Discussions during these engagements centred on further enhancing bilateral cooperation in the areas of investment, trade, tourism, and labour, while exploring new avenues for expanded economic cooperation and mutually beneficial engagement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.
During the Sri Lanka Day event, Minister Herath had constructive discussions with Dr. Thani, focusing on further strengthening and expanding bilateral trade and economic relations between Sri Lanka and the UAE. Minister Herath conveyed Sri Lanka’s interest in expediting the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries, with a view to further deepening economic engagement and creating greater opportunities for mutually beneficial trade and investment.
The flagship promotional and diplomatic initiative, held with the objective of positioning Sri Lanka as a premier destination for tourism, investment and trade in the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East region, brought together approximately 400 invitees, including members of the Diplomatic Corps, UAE and Sri Lankan Government officials, investors, corporate leaders, distributors, trade and tourism stakeholders, media representatives and influencers. During the event, Minister Herath engaged with UAE and Sri Lankan business leaders and representatives of the private sector, providing an opportunity to exchange views on strengthening commercial ties and identifying new avenues for trade, investment and business partnerships between Sri Lanka and the UAE.
On the sidelines of the visit, Minister Herath met with Amit Jain, Group CEO of EMAAR Group of the UAE, and Ahmad Matrooshi, Executive Director of EMAAR Group. During the meeting, Minister Herath exchanged views on real estate development and invited EMAAR Group to explore investment opportunities in the Port City Colombo.
Officials from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and other relevant Sri Lankan institutes participated in the discussions.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism
Colombo 01
04 September 2026
