Colombo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, along with UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, was present at the Sri Lanka Day event, the second edition of ‘Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams,’ orchestrated by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai on 02 September 2026.

According to News.LK, Minister Herath engaged in 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. The discussions aimed at fortifying bilateral cooperation in areas such as investment, trade, tourism, and labor, while also probing new avenues to expand economic cooperation and enhance mutually beneficial engagement between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.

At the Sri Lanka Day event, Minister Herath conducted discussions with Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi focused on strengthening and expanding bilateral trade and economic relations between Sri Lan
ka and the UAE. Minister Herath expressed Sri Lanka’s interest in fast-tracking the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two nations, targeting deeper economic engagement and the creation of greater opportunities for trade and investment.

The flagship promotional and diplomatic initiative was designed to position Sri Lanka as a prime destination for tourism, investment, and trade in the UAE and the broader Middle East region. The event attracted 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 interacted with UAE and Sri Lankan business leaders and private-sector representatives, providing a platform to exchange views on enhancing commercial ties and identifying new opportunities for trade, investment, and business partnerships between Sri Lanka and the UAE.

In add
ition to these engagements, 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 discussed real estate development and extended an invitation to 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.