Event industry gets policy boost as Industries Min. forms first dedicated advisory council

Sri Lanka is giving its event management industry a major boost, with the launch of a 25-member advisory council under the Industries Ministry, marking the first time the sector has its own dedicated policy forum. 

The move is championed by Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunnetti, in an effort to professionalise and grow the country’s creative service sector.

The event management industry has been a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s creative economy for over 30 years, directly employing 30,000 people and indirectly supporting another 80,000, impacting more than 400,000 families. 

The sector generated Rs.60 billion in 2025, with plans to scale up to Rs.250 billion. Globally, the industry is expanding 10-14 percent annually, with a market valued at US $ 1.5 trillion.

Chaired by Event Management Association President Saliya Weerasekara, the advisory council brings together voices from the public, private and academic sectors. Its early agenda focuses on addressing the industry bottlenecks, from simplifying the event permits and safeguarding the creative rights to establishing a national events calendar, improving domestic air travel and creating venues capable of hosting international gatherings in Colombo.

The ministry officials said the council’s formation is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s event ecosystem, elevate local talent onto the global stage and integrate the sector more closely with tourism growth, positioning the island as a regional hub for business and creative events.