The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), in collaboration with Uva Wellassa University, successfully organised an interactive educational session aimed at promoting Sri Lanka as a prime destination for international, regional, and domestic conferences, meetings, exhibitions, and incentive travel.

The event which was held on 17 December at Uva Wellassa University, saw the enthusiastic participation of 80 young bright mind undergraduates, who are poised to be the future professionals of the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry.

The primary objective of the program was to highlight Sri Lanka’s potential as a competitive destination for MICE tourism while simultaneously fostering the development of professional skills among university students. The initiative reflects SLCB’s commitment to empowering the younger generation and positioning Sri Lanka as a global hub for business tourism. This session covered the timely topics such as; understanding of MICE events, expectations of an event organiser and customers as well as the topic on how to build your MICE career with digital marketing.

SLCB Chairman Dheera Hettiarachchi delivered an inspiring address that highlighted the importance of developing local talent to meet the growing demands of the global MICE industry.

He further mentioned that “This program is not just about promoting Sri Lanka as a destination it’s about equipping young minds with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in this dynamic sector,” said Hettiarachchi. The event was graced by the presence of distinguished invitees, Vice Chancellor Senior Professor Kolitha B. Wijesekara, Dean Dhananjaya Nawarathne, and Head of Department Chathuri Dhanthanarayana from Uva Wellassa University. The event featured insightful discussions, presentations and interactive sessions conducted by the industry professionals Paddy Paul, Ziyan Ameen and Gihan Samarasekera. This session educated participants about the opportunities available in the MICE sector and its contribution to the national economy.

The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, as the country’s leading MICE authority, remains committed to nurturing local talent while strengthening Sri Lanka’s reputation as a premier destination for business and incentive travel.