Marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka–Vietnam relations, the Sri Lanka–Vietnam Trade, Investment and Tourism Cooperation Forum was successfully held today (May 8) at the Hilton Colombo.

The forum was jointly organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in parallel with the State Visit of Vietnamese President Tô Lâm, who also serves as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

President Tô Lâm and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya attended the event, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

The forum highlighted the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries and reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening economic cooperation.

According to the PMD, the primary objective of the event was to expand bilateral economic ties through enhanced trade, investment promotion, and tourism cooperation.

The forum also served as a platform for exploring new areas of collaboration, strengthening business-to-business engagement, and improving market access by bringing together senior government officials, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from both nations.

During the event, direct air connectivity between Colombo and Ho Chi Minh City was officially launched. The new services, operated by Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air, are expected to further strengthen ties between the two countries and their peoples.

Six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering several key areas of cooperation were also signed during the forum.

A notable development at the event was the establishment of the Sri Lanka–Vietnam Business Council under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Alongside the forum, the Export Development Board organised a business networking session, enabling Sri Lankan and Vietnamese entrepreneurs to engage directly and explore trade opportunities.

The PMD noted that the event received strong participation from the private sectors of both countries, with businesses expressing keen interest in expanding trade and building resilient supply chains.

Representing Sri Lanka at the forum were Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe, and several senior government officials and business leaders.

The Vietnamese delegation included senior Politburo members and ministers, among them Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Phan Van Giang, Luong Tam Quang, and Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung.

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