The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beirut hosted the “Discover Sri Lanka” Tourism Promotion Event at the Lancaster Plaza Hotel, bringing together more than 150 guests from Lebanon’s diplomatic, tourism, aviation, business and media communities.

Organised under the guidance of the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Lebanon and Syria, Anura Withanage, the event formed part of the Mission’s efforts to enhance Sri Lanka’s visibility in Lebanon and strengthen tourism and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

The Chief Guest, Minister of Tourism of Lebanon, Laura El Khazen Lahoud, delivered the keynote address. In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Withanage presented Sri Lanka as a destination offering a diverse range of attractions, including its rich cultural heritage, wildlife, beaches, tea country, Ayurveda and wellness, adventure and cuisine, and invited Lebanese travel agents, tour operators, airlines and media to promote Sri Lanka among Lebanese travellers.

Ambassador of Norway to Lebanon and former Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hilde Haraldstad, shared her personal experiences of more than six years in Sri Lanka in a presentation entitled “A Special Perspective on Sri Lanka.” Sri Lankan-Lebanese television presenter, singer and former Miss Universe Sri Lanka, Stephanie Siriwardhana, served as the Master of Ceremonies.

The programme opened with a Ceylon Tea tasting and featured traditional Sri Lankan cultural performances, including Magul Bera drumming, the Pooja Dance, and Kandyan and Low Country dances. Tourism partners, including Tala Tours, Aitken Spence Travels and Concord Tours, presented tour packages and accommodation options, while representatives of airlines, travel agencies and tour operators engaged with Sri Lankan counterparts. The event was also covered by Lebanese media organisations.

The event was held with the support of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Sri Lanka Tea Board, together with private-sector partners.

The strong turnout and interest generated at the event demonstrated the potential to promote Sri Lanka as a preferred destination in the Lebanese market. The Embassy will continue to engage with Lebanese travel agencies, tour operators, airlines and media to promote tourism and strengthen relations between Sri Lanka and Lebanon.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Beirut

09 October 2026