Md. Tanjid, Campus Representative || Sri Lanka is strengthening its position in the global tourism industry with an ambitious focus on business events, and at the heart of that effort is Dheera Hettiarachchi, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB).His leadership is particularly visible this week as Sri Lanka MICE Expo 2026, taking place from 5 to 9 October in Colombo, brings together international hosted buyers, media representatives and tourism professionals from around the world.The Expo has emerged as an important platform for Sri Lanka to showcase its potential as a destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE)—a sector capable of creating significant business opportunities across the tourism industry.More than 120 hosted buyers and media representatives from 27 countries are participating in this year's Expo, creating opportunities for Sri Lankan tourism businesses to establish international connections and explore new partnerships.For Hettiarachchi, the event represents more than a gathering of tourism professionals. It is part of a broader vision to position Sri Lanka as a competitive destination for international conferences, corporate meetings, incentive travel and exhibitions.Connecting Sri Lanka with the worldOne of the strongest elements of Sri Lanka MICE Expo 2026 is its international character.The Expo brings global buyers directly into contact with Sri Lankan hotels, destination management companies, event organisers and other tourism stakeholders. Through business-to-business meetings and networking sessions, conversations that begin in Colombo can potentially develop into future international events hosted across Sri Lanka.Hettiarachchi has emphasised the importance of these international connections, describing the participation of global buyers and media as an opportunity for Sri Lankan MICE industry partners to build valuable business relationships and collaborations.The Expo programme includes business forums, plenary sessions, B2B meetings, networking opportunities and destination experiences, allowing international participants to experience both Sri Lanka's business-event infrastructure and its wider tourism attractions.A new chapter for Sri Lankan tourismSri Lanka has long been recognised internationally for its beaches, heritage, wildlife, cuisine and hospitality. But the country's tourism ambitions are increasingly moving beyond traditional leisure travel.MICE tourism offers Sri Lanka another powerful avenue for growth.A conference delegate can attend a business event in Colombo and then experience the country's cultural heritage, wildlife, beaches or hill country within a relatively short journey. This combination of business and leisure gives Sri Lanka a distinctive proposition in the competitive international MICE market.Under Hettiarachchi's leadership, the SLCB is seeking to turn that potential into tangible international business opportunities.MICE gaining importanceThe growing scale of Sri Lanka MICE Expo reflects the increasing importance of business tourism within Sri Lanka's tourism strategy.According to recent reporting, Hettiarachchi has said that the share of MICE visitors in Sri Lanka's tourism market is expected to rise significantly, reflecting the country's ambition to become a stronger regional events hub.The SLCB has also invested substantially in this year's Expo, underlining the importance attached to attracting international business events and creating opportunities for the wider tourism economy.The benefits can extend well beyond hotels and conference venues. International MICE events generate demand for transportation, restaurants, event production, destination management, entertainment and many other tourism-related services.Leadership with a global visionDeputy Tourism Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe has identified MICE tourism as an important driver of Sri Lanka's tourism growth.That national vision is being translated into international engagement through the work of the SLCB and its Chairman.For Hettiarachchi, the objective is not simply to bring visitors to Sri Lanka. It is to bring the global business community to the island—to create relationships that can lead to conferences, incentive programmes, exhibitions and long-term commercial partnerships.As Sri Lanka MICE Expo 2026 continues in Colombo from October 5 to 9, international buyers and media are getting a closer look at what Sri Lanka can offer the global MICE industry.The real measure of the Expo will come after the event—in the partnerships formed, events won and international business generated.But one message is already becoming clear: Sri Lanka wants to be recognised not only as a beautiful place to visit, but also as a place where the world can meet, connect and do business.And behind that ambition stands Dheera Hettiarachchi—the man behind Sri Lanka MICE Expo 2026.