BENGALURU Two senior journalists from Sri Lanka Claude Gunasekera, Chief Editor of Sri Lanka’s International News Agency – NewsLanka (www.lankapuwath.lk) & Secretary of the Travel Journalists Association of Sri Lanka and former Business Editor Daily News and Sunday Observer now serving for Hiru News shirajiv sirimane were on a one week special media tour to Bangalore, India recently form 7- 12 December.
They attended a Press Conference at The Taj West End Hotel in Bangalore a historic luxury hotel located in the heart of Bangalore presided by Deepak Shetty, President ICEMA and CEO/MD of JCB India Ltd. Leading media professionals in Bangalore gathered at the media event hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Following the Press Conference, Senior journalists of India and Sri Lanka had a joint symposium at the Bangalore Press Club situated in the scenic surroundings of Cubbon Park aimed at enhancing media engagement to promote tourism and trade & industry between the two nations. In a vibrant display of collaboration, Gunasekera and Sirimane engaged in a productive discourse, culminating in a strategic framework for the collaborative advancement of media exposure for bilateral tourism initiatives for integrated media campaigns and reciprocal trade & industry agreements. They had a successful media gathering with the media leaders of India at the Bangalore Press Club and at the Press Conference.
The Press Club President R. Sridhar warmly welcomed the Sri Lankan journalists on behalf of the Bangalore Media Fraternity. Local journalists invitation to Press Club was coordinated by veteran journalist Mrs. Mini Tajeswi, Deputy Editor of ‘The Hindu’ prominent Indian English-language daily newspaper of India. “India remains a crucial source market for Sri Lanka tourism and conversely, Sri Lanka is a popular destination for Indian travelers, particularly for religious tourism and cultural exchanges aimed to foster greater understanding and collaboration between the both nations. Such initiatives are vital for promoting cross-border tourism and strengthening bilateral ties, especially given the shared cultural heritage and historical connections between India and Sri Lanka. The focus on pilgrimage sites for Sri Lankan tourists aligns with the growing trend of religious tourism, which is a significant segment of the travel industry in both countries” stated R. Sridhar, President of The Press Club, Bangalore. “With Sri Lanka witnessing a remarkable surge in tourist arrivals, the event emphasized the importance of highlighted innovative media strategies and partnerships, showcasing how both countries can boost mutual tourism, thereby enriching the travel experience for visitors and fostering deeper connections between the two nations” said Mrs. Mini Tajeswi, Deputy Editor of ‘The Hindu’.
“This exchange highlights a common strategy in international tourism, where familiarization tours (Famtours) are used to educate and engage media professionals, who then become advocates for the destination”. Mrs. Tajeswi’s statement directly reflects the success of such a Famtour, leading to her commitment to cover events related to tourism and trade promotion in Sri Lanka. Claude Gunasekera’s response indicates a similar approach for Indian destinations, suggesting a mutual benefit for both countries in fostering tourism through media collaboration. The local media expert Shirajive Sirimanna further emphasized the importance of targeted media promotion.
Lankan Journalists also had discussions with Ranjan Kumar Acharya, South Indian Bureau Chief – News7 India, one of the most-watched news channels in the Tamil-speaking community, Sirinivas B.L, Editor in Chief of Fortune World, a digital media platform that focuses on providing news, analysis, and insights across various sectors including global affairs, Abhinav Singh, of Malayala Manorama a prominent Indian daily newspaper, which is one of the oldest and most widely circulated Malayalam-language newspapers in India and with a number of other journalists. Lankan Journalists also visited EXCON 2026, South Asia’s largest construction equipment exhibition, held at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) in Bengaluru, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Schwing Stetter’s global manufacturing hub which spans for 52 acres in Cheyyar, Tamil Nadu.:( LankaTourGuide)
