Sri Lanka captures Bollywood to become a favourite location for Indian films

As a destination blessed with all the natural wonders and captivating landscapes, Sri Lanka was able to become the cynosure of all eyes at the ‘India International Film Tourism Conclave – 2017’ (IIFTC), which was held from 23 to 25 February at the JW Marriott Hotel, Juhu for the fourth consecutive year. 

Sri Lanka Tourism was able to showcase the island nation’s cultural and natural splendour by participating at this gala event, with over 18 other destinations, inclined to show their own identity to the cinematic industry. 

Saroja Sirisena, Sri Lanka Consulate General for Mumbai, and officials of the Sri Lanka Mission in Mumbai, India, extended their support to make this effort a success. The event was held amongst a distinguished audience including the stalwarts of the Indian cinema industry and leading film producers participating from Bollywood, Kollywood, and other regional industries including Thelingu, Marathi and Bengali film industries. 

This was the first time Sri Lanka participated at this event, and the presentation made by Sri Lanka Tourism captured the full attention of the crowd with its display of breathtakingly stunning landscapes. The presentation also drew the attention of other competitors at the same time, since it was a new experience for them to watch the lush greenery, cultural splendour, and exquisite beaches, and many more pleasures which Sri Lanka had to offer. The purpose of participating at event was to showcase Sri Lanka as a popular film destination, equipped with all the natural resources that one needs. By presenting such an attractive display of the island nation, Sri Lanka Tourism was able to convince the Indian film producers to think of choosing Sri Lanka as the next film location for their creative works of art. As a compact destination with various natural and a large diversity, located just a few kilometres away from each other, Sri Lanka can be shown as a destination which can be an ideal location for the perfect film shoot. 

In presenting destination Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Tourism further highlighted the fact, that having a distance of less than 2500km to the heart of Bollywood and having frequent flights from all around India to Colombo, Sri Lanka is a location that India must not neglect. The opportunity of having the dynamic visa process, cultural variety and rich local film industry equipped with European standard production equipment, the arrival of more high profile Indian film industry representatives to Sri Lanka is expected, to produce more Indian films using Sri Lankan locations.   

Taking this event as a great opportunity, Sri Lanka Tourism is planning to organise a location familiarisation tour program for selected high profile film directors and producers from the Indian Cinema in order to enhance their awareness about the destination and showcase Sri Lanka’s capability to facilitate the Indian Cinema industry. Sri Lanka Tourism was represented by Chaminda Munasinghe, JM (PR Division) Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.