Sri Lanka Tourism has concluded its Australia and New Zealand Roadshow Series in Perth, bringing together more than 85 Australian travel agents and tour operators for a day of business-to-business engagement, industry networking and destination promotion.
The Perth programme marked the final stop of the roadshow series and provided an opportunity for Sri Lankan tourism representatives and members of the Australian travel trade to strengthen existing relationships while exploring new opportunities to increase visitor arrivals from Australia and New Zealand.
The programme featured a series of B2B meetings, a press conference and destination presentations showcasing Sri Lanka’s diverse tourism offering. Participants also experienced cultural performances, content creator sessions, a question-and-answer segment and a raffle draw, before the programme concluded with a gala dinner.
The strong participation from the Australian travel industry highlighted the importance of direct engagement between destination representatives and travel professionals as Sri Lanka works to strengthen its presence in the Australian and New Zealand markets.
The roadshow series was designed to provide travel agents and tour operators with greater insight into Sri Lanka’s range of tourism experiences, including its beaches, wildlife, scenic landscapes, cultural heritage, adventure activities and culinary offerings.
The Perth event also served as a platform to highlight Sri Lanka’s readiness to welcome more visitors from Australia and New Zealand while strengthening collaboration with travel industry partners involved in promoting and selling Sri Lanka as a holiday destination.
Sri Lanka’s Coconut Exports Reach US$614 Million in First Half of 2026
Sri Lanka’s coconut industry generated US$614 million in export revenue during the first half of 2026, up from US$530 million recorded during the corresponding period last year, according to Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Sundaralingam Pradeep.
Speaking at the Sri Lanka Coconut Awards 2026, organised by the Coconut Development Authority, Deputy Minister Pradeep said the increase reflected strong performance across the country’s coconut sector.
Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe said kernel-based coconut products generated the largest share of export earnings during the period, contributing US$317 million. Fibre-based products accounted for US$150 million, while shell-based products generated US$135 million.
Industry representatives noted that total coconut export earnings had increased by 43% compared with 2024, with shell-based products recording the highest incremental growth, followed by fibre-based and kernel-based products.
However, industry stakeholders stressed that the sector’s future growth should not be measured solely by higher turnover, highlighting the importance of maintaining profitability, improving productivity and increasing value addition.
Sri Lanka’s coconut industry has set an ambitious target of generating US$2.5 billion in export revenue by 2030. Wijesinghe noted that Sri Lanka still trails major coconut-producing countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia, which generate considerably higher export earnings.
Speakers at the event also highlighted the need to maintain a reliable supply of quality coconuts amid declining yields attributed to climate change and pest attacks.
They called for greater investment in value-added production, productivity-enhancing measures and coconut replanting programmes to strengthen the industry’s long-term competitiveness and support its export growth ambitions.
Sri Lanka Tourism Wraps Up Australia and New Zealand Roadshow Series in Perth
