Colombo, Sri Lanka – In celebration of International Women’s Day, Minor Hotels Sri Lanka brought together leading women from across the country’s travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors for an engaging focus group discussion that explored leadership, industry perspectives, and the growing influence of women shaping Sri Lanka’s tourism landscape. The discussion was held on 8 March 2026 at Mansion, NH Collection Colombo, welcoming an audience of professionals from across the travel and tourism industry.
Held under the theme “Women Driving Sri Lanka’s Tourism, Travel & Hospitality Industries,” the discussion created a platform for women within the industry to share experiences, insights, and perspectives on the evolving role of female leadership and the continued growth of tourism in Sri Lanka.
The panel featured distinguished industry leaders including Nalika Abeysuriya, Chief Executive Officer and Vice President – John Keells Group; Madubhani Perera, Director Public Relations at the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; Dinushka Chandrasena, Editor of Travel Talk Asia and Director PR & Communications at Skål Asia; Asangika Fernando, Cluster Assistant Director of Sales, Luxury at Minor Hotels Sri Lanka; and Manthi Jayawickrama, Assistant Cluster Director of Learning at Minor Hotels Sri Lanka. The session was moderated by Ashanthi Perera, Cluster Senior Marketing & Communications Manager at Minor Hotels Sri Lanka.
Throughout the discussion, the panelists reflected on their professional journeys and shared perspectives on the opportunities and challenges women navigate within the tourism and hospitality sectors. Conversations touched on leadership in inbound tourism, the role of international tourism promotion in strengthening Sri Lanka’s global presence, the importance of storytelling and media in shaping destination narratives, and the value women bring to leadership roles across hospitality sales, learning, and industry development.
The discussion also highlighted the increasing presence of women across the tourism ecosystem, from strategic leadership and destination promotion to communications, training, and commercial operations. The exchange of ideas reinforced how collaboration, knowledge sharing, and inclusive leadership continue to contribute to the evolution of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.
Minor Hotels Sri Lanka operates several distinguished hospitality properties across the country including Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, Anantara Kalutara Resort, NH Collection Colombo, Avani Kalutara Resort and NH Bentota Ceysands Resort, each contributing to Sri Lanka’s dynamic tourism landscape through exceptional guest experiences and industry leadership.
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