Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Sumith Dassanayake, had a meeting with Mr. Vincent Subilia, Director General of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services (CCIG), on 12 August 2026.
During the meeting, Ambassador Dassanayake briefed the Chamber on recent economic developments in Sri Lanka and highlighted considerable untapped potential for expanding trade, investment and wider commercial relations between Sri Lanka and Switzerland. He stressed that stronger business-to-business engagement would be important in translating the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries into tangible economic partnerships.
Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake underscored possibilities for strengthening institutional links between the Geneva Chamber and Sri Lankan business chambers, including exploring a possible Chamber-to-Chamber Memorandum of Understanding, exchange of business delegations, business matchmaking and closer cooperation with relevant Sri Lankan trade and investment institutions.
Ambassador Dassanayake also shared information on Sri Lanka Expo 2027, scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in January 2027, and invited the CCIG to encourage Geneva and Swiss companies to participate and explore emerging trade, sourcing, investment and partnership opportunities in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Subilia welcomed the engagement and agreed that information on Sri Lanka Expo 2027 and emerging business opportunities could be shared among the Chamber’s membership through its communication channels. Both sides also discussed possibilities for further Chamber-to-Chamber cooperation and continued engagement aimed at connecting interested businesses in Sri Lanka and Switzerland.
The meeting marked an initial step towards developing a more practical and sustained partnership between the Sri Lankan Mission in Geneva and the CCIG, with a particular focus on facilitating direct business connections and identifying concrete commercial opportunities.
Ambassador Dassanayake was accompanied by Ambassador R.G.S. Wijesekara, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the World Trade Organization. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Arthur Lusenti, Head of International Affairs of the CCIG.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva
12 August 2026