The Embassy of Nepal in Colombo, in collaboration with The Management Club (TMC) Jaffna and in coordination with the Sri Lanka–Nepal Business Council, organized the “Nepal–Jaffna Engagement: Diplomatic Mission Explores Development Collaboration” at Jetwing Jaffna on Tuesday on 7th July, aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation and expand partnerships beyond Sri Lanka’s capital.
The event brought together business leaders, tourism entrepreneurs, artisans, religious leaders, academics and civil society representatives from Sri Lanka’s Northern Province to explore new opportunities for collaboration in tourism, trade, investment and cultural exchange between Nepal and Jaffna.
Nepal highlights diverse tourism and investment opportunities
Addressing the gathering, Chargé d’Affaires Vijay Kumar Raut showcased Nepal’s diverse tourism and economic potential, encouraging Sri Lankan visitors to explore destinations beyond Kathmandu and Lumbini. He highlighted Nepal’s strengths in spiritual tourism, wellness, adventure tourism, mountain tourism, cultural heritage, technology, innovation and renewable energy, emphasizing that the country offers a wide range of experiences for both leisure and business travelers. Raut also underscored Nepal’s commitment to expanding bilateral engagement with all regions of Sri Lanka and strengthening people-to-people ties through tourism, trade and cultural cooperation.
Northern Sri Lanka showcases tourism potential
Speaking at the programme, Dr. Vivekanandan, Chairman of Northern Tourism and Promotions, highlighted the tourism opportunities available in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. He spoke about the region’s unique cultural heritage, coastal attractions and religious sites, while also identifying areas where Nepal and Northern Sri Lanka could collaborate to promote two-way tourism.
He noted that closer tourism cooperation could encourage more Nepali travelers to visit northern Sri Lanka while attracting Sri Lankan visitors to Nepal’s mountains, pilgrimage destinations and adventure tourism experiences.
Experts call for stronger bilateral partnerships
The programme featured presentations from several prominent speakers, including Prof. P. Balasundarampillai, Professor of Geography and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna, who reflected on Nepal’s rich cultural heritage, historical significance and the warmth of its people.
Robinson B. Prashanthan, Chief Executive Officer of Innovay and Online Business Consultant, and Jekhan Aruliah of the Jaffna Club also highlighted the importance of strengthening practical cooperation between Nepal and Northern Sri Lanka in tourism, trade and commercial networking. They emphasized that enhanced business collaboration and stronger people-to-people connections would create new economic opportunities for both regions.
The participants were welcomed by Vivekananthan Niranjan, Vice President of The Management Club Jaffna, who introduced the organization’s activities and its role in promoting entrepreneurship and regional development in Northern Sri Lanka. The event was coordinated by Anu Rakavan, Chairman of The Management Club Jaffna.
Interactive discussions on tourism and trade
Following the formal presentations, participants engaged in an interactive question-and-answer session during which Chargé d’Affaires Raut responded to queries on various areas of bilateral cooperation. Discussions focused on promoting two-way tourism by combining Nepal’s Himalayan experiences with Sri Lanka’s coastal tourism products, expanding bilateral trade and supporting collaboration between Nepali entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Jaffna.
Participants also explored ways to facilitate visa procedures for tourists, pilgrims and business travelers while strengthening educational, cultural and religious exchanges rooted in the shared Buddhist and Hindu heritage of both countries. The discussions further highlighted Nepal’s growing appeal as a destination for meditation, yoga, wellness retreats and pilgrimage tourism.
Commitment to stronger regional engagement
As a gesture of friendship and appreciation, the Embassy of Nepal presented a “Token of Love” to The Management Club Jaffna in recognition of the warm hospitality extended by the people of Jaffna and their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. Representatives of The Management Club Jaffna welcomed the initiative and expressed keen interest in launching joint tourism promotion campaigns, artisan exchange programmes and business networking initiatives between Nepal and Northern Sri Lanka.
Participants also identified significant opportunities for collaboration in heritage tourism, wellness tourism, cultural industries and community-based tourism. The Embassy of Nepal reaffirmed its commitment to expanding Nepal–Sri Lanka relations beyond Colombo by strengthening partnerships with provinces across the island nation, promoting tourism, trade, cultural understanding and long-term economic cooperation between the two countries.
