GL says Expo 2020 a timely and great opportunity to promote SL

By Charumini de Silva in Dubai

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday described the opportunity to promote Sri Lanka at Expo 2020 in Dubai as “timely”, and that the country should make the best use of it.

“This is a timely opportunity. We need to take the maximum of this opportunity to brand Sri Lanka. It’s a marketing exercise and it needs to be professionally done in this competitive manner,” Prof. Peiris told a select group of journalists invited to cover the Sri Lanka National Day at the Expo 2020 today.

Prof. Peiris will be the Chief Guest at the ceremony with Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga as the Guest of Honour. 

The Foreign Minister stressed that Sri Lanka as a tourist destination wasn’t just sea, sand and the sun, but rich in diversity, including wellness, culture, religion, environment, wildlife etc.

Prof. Peiris also said the Expo 2020 was also an ideal platform to promote Sri Lanka’s exports, including value-added spices and other agricultural products, gems and jewellery as well as industrial and manufactured exports. 

It was emphasised that successful promotion of Sri Lanka at Expo 2020 would result in greater trade, investments and tourism, which will help Sri Lanka to overcome the current economic challenges caused by the COVID pandemic.  Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said all these years Sri Lanka had done promotions in isolation, and Expo 2020 offers a golden opportunity to position the country collectively in a well-coordinated national effort. “At Expo 2020, it is not just tourism, but the Sri Lanka Pavilion will promote all other foreign exchange earnings sectors,” he said, adding that given the pandemic, Sri Lanka must take on every challenge as an opportunity and become a progressive and prosperous country.

Apart from Ministers Peiris and Ranatunga, the Sri Lanka delegation to Expo 2020 includes Sri Lanka Ambassador in the UAE Malraj de Silva, Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary Jayantha Colombage, Gem and Jewellery State Minister Lohan Ratwatte, and Colombo District MP Madura Vithana.