A multi-sector Sri Lankan business delegation has wrapped up a two-week trade and investment mission to Canada, aiming to deepen bilateral commercial ties and unlock new opportunities across priority industries. The delegation, organised by the Sri Lanka–Canada Business Council (SLCBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce with support from the Canada–Sri Lanka Business Convention (CSLBC), the Canadian High Commission in Colombo, and the Sri Lankan High Commission in Ottawa, visited five major Canadian cities from 28 October to 14 November 2025.
Representing agriculture, IT, finance, tourism, education, and investment consultancy sectors, the group held high-level discussions with Canadian business leaders, trade officials, universities, and provincial authorities across Toronto, Quebec, Montreal, Saskatchewan, and Vancouver.
The mission commenced in Toronto with a courtesy call on the Consulate and CSLBC leadership. Talks centred on expanding cooperation in banking and financial services, agri-tech, medical tourism, and insurance, while exploring Canada’s growing Indo-Pacific interests. Delegates also discussed plans for an investment forum in Colombo and measures to strengthen diaspora-driven trade and investment flows between the two countries.
A Business Forum in Toronto brought together sector specialists for sessions on tourism, IT, agriculture, education, and women’s entrepreneurship. The proposed Overseas Citizens of Sri Lanka (OCSL) visa scheme was also examined. A networking reception featured the soft launch of “Asia’s Emerging Economies Expo 2026” and included a special commendation from the Legislative Assembly of Ontario recognising the delegation’s contribution to bilateral trade promotion.
In Montreal, the delegation met the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka and local business leaders to discuss investor facilitation and preparations for the upcoming “Gateway to Growth” trade fair. In Quebec, education-sector delegates participated in the Quebec Immigration and Integration Fair 2025, engaging officials and institutions on international education pathways and talent mobility.
Saskatchewan engagements highlighted collaboration opportunities in agriculture, food security, and resource development. At the Global Institute for Food Security, SLCBC appointed Dr. Ruben Rajkumar as Goodwill Ambassador for Saskatchewan in recognition of his longstanding support for strengthening ties with Sri Lanka. Productive discussions with Bioriginal and the University of Saskatchewan identified prospects in value-added processing, smart agriculture, post-harvest technology, research partnerships, and export development. The University of Regina also explored joint degree programmes, scholarships, and student mobility initiatives.
The delegation further met officials from the City of Toronto to explore cooperation in venture capital, trade exhibitions, and education partnerships.
Concluding the mission, SLCBC President and delegation leader M.H.K.M. Hameez said the visit reaffirmed Canada’s growing interest in Sri Lanka’s competitive advantages and opened practical avenues for long-term bilateral cooperation. He emphasised that Sri Lanka remains a strong gateway for Canadian businesses seeking expansion in Asia. SLCBC will now work with public and private sector partners in both countries to advance the identified initiatives toward implementation.
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