Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, together with UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, participated in the Sri Lanka Day event, the second edition of “Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams,” organized by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai on 02 September 2026.
During the visit, Minister Herath held bilateral meetings with UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar and UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri.
Discussions focused on further strengthening bilateral cooperation in investment, trade, tourism and labour, while exploring new avenues to expand economic cooperation and promote mutually beneficial engagement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.
At the Sri Lanka Day event, Minister Herath held constructive discussions with Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi on further strengthening and expanding bilateral trade and economic relations between Sri Lanka and the UAE.
Minister Herath conveyed Sri Lanka’s interest in expediting the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries, with the objective of deepening economic engagement and creating greater opportunities for mutually beneficial trade and investment.
The flagship promotional and diplomatic initiative was organized with the objective of positioning Sri Lanka as a premier destination for tourism, investment and trade in the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East region.
The event brought together approximately 400 invitees, including members of the Diplomatic Corps, UAE and Sri Lankan Government officials, investors, corporate leaders, distributors, trade and tourism stakeholders, media representatives and influencers.
Minister Herath also engaged with UAE and Sri Lankan business leaders and private-sector representatives, providing an opportunity to exchange views on strengthening commercial ties and identifying new opportunities for trade, investment and business partnerships between Sri Lanka and the UAE.
On the sidelines of the visit, Minister Herath met with Amit Jain, Group CEO of EMAAR Group of the UAE, and Ahmad Matrooshi, Executive Director of EMAAR Group.
During the meeting, Minister Herath exchanged views on real estate development and invited EMAAR Group to explore investment opportunities in Port City Colombo.
Officials from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and other relevant Sri Lankan institutions participated in the discussions.
