Sri Lanka draws crowds at Lotus Festival in Los Angeles

Sri Lanka's pavilion emerged as one of the main attractions at the 2026 Lotus Festival in Los Angeles, drawing thousands of visitors during the two-day event attended by more than 5,000 people.

As the host country, Sri Lanka showcased its rich cultural heritage, tourism offerings, and natural beauty, attracting significant interest from festivalgoers. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also visited the Sri Lankan pavilion, marking one of the festival's notable highlights.

Visitors were introduced to Sri Lanka's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, scenic landscapes, popular tourist destinations, and diverse travel experiences. Consul General of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles, Achini Perera, also promoted Sri Lanka's 30-day free Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) programme, which is available to travellers from 40 countries, including the United States.

A cultural performance organised alongside the festival received an enthusiastic response from the audience, featuring traditional Kandyan, Low Country, and Sabaragamuwa dance performances that highlighted Sri Lanka's vibrant cultural traditions.

The event was attended by Consul General Achini Perera, Deputy Consul General Rekha Mallikarachchi, officials of the Consulate General, and a large number of members of the Sri Lankan community in Southern California.

Several distinguished Sri Lankan academics and professionals, including Dr. Sarath Gunapala, Professor Dr. Bandula Wijay, and Dr. Walter Jayasinghe, also attended the festival, adding further prominence to Sri Lanka's participation.