Canada Day Sri Lanka celebrations highlighted the growing economic partnership between the two countries, with business leaders and diplomats reaffirming their commitment to expanding trade, investment and Indo-Pacific cooperation.
Canada Day Sri Lanka highlights Indo-Pacific cooperation and investment opportunities
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (CanCham Sri Lanka) marked the 159th anniversary of Canadian Confederation with a Canada Day celebration at Cinnamon Grand, bringing together diplomats, government representatives, business executives and private sector stakeholders to discuss opportunities for deeper bilateral engagement and regional collaboration.
The event underscored CanCham Sri Lanka’s growing role as a platform for strengthening commercial ties between Canada and Sri Lanka while promoting the country’s integration into Indo-Pacific value chains. Established in December 2025 with the support of Global Affairs Canada and the High Commission of Canada, the Chamber has rapidly expanded its activities across several strategic sectors.
Addressing the gathering, Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Isabelle Martin, said Canada remains committed to strengthening cooperation through trade, investment and development partnerships. She described Canada as a multicultural nation built on diversity and shared values, noting that the relationship with Sri Lanka continues to grow through government engagement, private sector collaboration and people-to-people connections.
Martin said Canada Day provides an opportunity to reflect on common values such as inclusion, respect for diversity, human rights and reconciliation. She also observed increasing interest from Canadian businesses exploring investment opportunities in Sri Lanka following the country’s economic recovery efforts.
She noted that the Indo-Pacific region has become increasingly significant in global economic activity, making stronger partnerships between businesses and institutions more important than ever. According to Martin, chambers of commerce such as CanCham Sri Lanka play a critical role in translating policy objectives into practical business opportunities that benefit both countries.
Delivering the welcome address, CanCham Sri Lanka Founder and Board Member Mohamed Hameez outlined the Chamber’s rapid development since its establishment on 21 December 2025. He explained that the organisation was created as a strategic bridge connecting businesses in Sri Lanka and Canada while encouraging investment, innovation and long-term economic cooperation.
Hameez said the Chamber has already established a second office, expanded its membership base and launched initiatives covering tourism, information technology, education, healthcare and skills development. He pointed to partnerships in Saskatchewan’s global health sector, participation in Indo-Pacific chamber networks and collaboration with international entrepreneurship organisations as evidence of the Chamber’s early progress.
Corporate social responsibility has also become a priority for the Chamber. Hameez noted that CanCham Sri Lanka has supported more than 75 differently-abled students in Matale through a partnership with Lions Clubs International District 306. Building on these efforts, the Chamber plans to introduce scholarship programmes for students from underserved and low-income families.
Looking ahead, Hameez announced plans to organise a business delegation to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver later this year. The delegation will promote Sri Lanka as an investment destination across tourism, real estate, fintech and education while strengthening Canada Sri Lanka trade relationships with Canadian businesses.
The Chamber also unveiled an ambitious programme of future initiatives, including an ocean cleanup project during its first anniversary celebrations in December 2026, a climate-focused sustainable development forum in early 2027 and the launch of a CanCham Economic Forum designed to encourage investment, innovation and inclusive growth.
A promotional video titled CanCham SL – Building Bridges for Economic Partnerships Between Canada, Sri Lanka and the Indo-Pacific Region highlighted the Chamber’s long-term strategy of positioning Sri Lanka within expanding regional value chains.
The event also featured a panel discussion on Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, bringing together former Finance Minister Eran Wickremaratne, Academy of Design Founder and Chairperson Linda Spendawinde, and tourism industry leader Chalaka Gajabahu. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across energy, technology, manufacturing and tourism while improving regional trade facilitation and investment flows.
One of the evening’s major highlights was the presentation of the Five-Year Strategic Tourism Development Plan prepared by the CanCham Sri Lanka Tourism Core Group. The proposal was formally handed over to the Canadian High Commissioner and Chamber leadership before entering a stakeholder consultation process. The Chamber expects the final strategy to be completed within the next 60 days, supporting efforts to attract greater tourism investment and international collaboration.
CanCham Sri Lanka also highlighted Canada’s commitment of approximately CAD 500 billion towards strengthening Indo-Pacific engagement over the coming decade. Chamber officials said this commitment creates significant opportunities for Canada Sri Lanka trade, investment partnerships and institutional collaboration across multiple industries.
As Canada Day Sri Lanka celebrations concluded, the Chamber reaffirmed its commitment to advancing bilateral trade, expanding business partnerships and positioning Sri Lanka as an increasingly important partner within Canada’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy.