July 20, Colombo (LNW): In a bid to position Sri Lanka as a vibrant destination for international filmmaking and cultural exchange, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, held a high-profile meeting with Indian actor and producer Ravi Mohan, alongside singer and performer Keneesha Francis, at the National Film Corporation headquarters yesterday.
The discussions explored opportunities to expand Sri Lanka’s film tourism footprint by encouraging global film producers to consider the island nation as a cinematic backdrop. Minister Herath expressed the government’s renewed commitment to supporting the creative economy through targeted policy reform and strategic international partnerships.
Chairman of the National Film Corporation, Sudath Mahadivulwewa, who also took part in the dialogue, emphasised the need for practical incentives and institutional support to attract major productions. He noted that collaboration with global industry figures like Mohan and Francis could open up new avenues for local talent, training, and investment.
The meeting also touched on how music, performance, and storytelling can serve as bridges between communities, deepening people-to-people ties while creating tangible tourism benefits. Stakeholders discussed establishing film-friendly zones, simplifying permitting processes, and launching co-production agreements as part of the effort to revitalise the local entertainment sector.
