Indo Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ISCCI) continues to advance its mission of strengthening the economic and strategic partnership between India and Sri Lanka through a series of impactful engagements, policy dialogues, investment platforms, and international collaborations.
In the year 2025, ISCCI successfully convened multiple initiatives bringing together policy experts, financial institutions, business leaders, diplomats, and international stakeholders to explore new opportunities for regional cooperation, economic stability, and sustainable development between the two nations.
A major milestone in ISCCI’s initiatives was the Indo–Sri Lanka Cooperation Summit – 2025, which brought together distinguished policymakers, industry leaders, financial experts, and representatives from diplomatic and institutional bodies to discuss the future of bilateral trade, economic cooperation, and regional development.
The summit served as a powerful platform for dialogue on investment, infrastructure collaboration, financial partnerships, tourism promotion, and emerging sectors, reinforcing the importance of India–Sri Lanka cooperation in the broader economic landscape.
One of the most impactful initiatives undertaken by ISCCI has been the Financial Dialogue Series, aimed at exploring innovative financial mechanisms to support infrastructure development, investment flows, and economic cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
The dialogue focused on the potential of sovereign bond issuance in India as a mechanism to support Sri Lanka’s infrastructure financing and economic recovery.
The event brought together financial experts, policy analysts, bankers, and institutional investors to deliberate on market frameworks, regulatory preparedness, and cross-border financial collaboration.
Building on the success of the first dialogue, the second Financial Dialogue Series explored opportunities for strengthening financial connectivity between the two economies.
Discussions focused on local currency financing, investor participation, and cross-border capital market integration with participation from policy experts, financial institutions, regulators, and industry stakeholders from both India and Sri Lanka.
ISCCI also played an important role in promoting the book launch held on 23 February 2026 at the Vivekananda International Foundation, marking an important contribution to contemporary strategic discourse.
The book, edited by Shri Pratap Heblikar, includes contributions from 26 scholars across 22 chapters.
Chapter 7 titled “India – Sri Lanka Convergence Cooperation and Partnerships” is co-authored by Dr. Naresh Bana and Mr. Udaya Seneviratne.
The book provides valuable insights into the evolving relationship between India and Sri Lanka across economic, strategic, cultural, and policy dimensions.
ISCCI promotes participation of industry leaders, investors, and stakeholders in the upcoming international event:
This premier global platform showcases Sri Lanka’s investment potential across key sectors including:
Through its encouragement to financial institutions and investors, ISCCI continues to promote greater Indian participation in Sri Lanka’s economic growth journey.
ISCCI also promotes participation in the Ragedara Graphite Mines visit in Sri Lanka scheduled for 27 March 2026.
Sri Lanka is globally recognized for its high-quality natural graphite mines, which are critical for sectors such as:
The visit aims to explore investment opportunities, technological collaboration, and supply chain partnerships between Indian and Sri Lankan stakeholders.
Through its expanding network of initiatives and collaborations, ISCCI continues to serve as an important platform connecting industry, policymakers, investors, academic institutions, and entrepreneurs across India and Sri Lanka.
With a growing portfolio of dialogues, forums, industry engagements, and collaborative initiatives, the Indo Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry looks forward to expanding its activities in investment promotion, policy engagement, industry collaboration, and cultural connectivity.
These efforts aim to contribute to a stronger, more resilient, and forward-looking bilateral relationship between India and Sri Lanka.
Venue: BMICH, Colombo
Date: Wednesday, 15th October 2025
The Indo–Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ISCCI) successfully hosted the second edition of its flagship financial dialogue, “Bridging Borders”, under the theme “Enabling Sri Lanka’s Market Bond Issuance in Indian Currency – Pathways, Policies, and Preparedness” at the BMICH, Colombo. The event brought together leading financial experts, policymakers, and institutional heads from both countries to discuss the prospects of INR-denominated bonds (“Masala Bonds”) as a catalyst for deeper Indo–Sri Lankan financial integration.
The session featured a distinguished panel including Dr. Satyajai Jha Pandey, Deputy High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka; Prins Perera, Senior Vice President and Head of Treasury, Investment and Wholesale Banking, DFCC Bank; Eran Wickramaratne, Former State Minister of Finance; Nissanka W. Wijeyeratne, Secretary General and CEO, Chamber of Construction Industry; and Sachith Perera, CEO, First Capital Ltd. The discussion was moderated by Talal Rafi, Economist and Global Thought Leader.
In his keynote remarks, Dr. Pandey highlighted India’s readiness to support Sri Lanka in financing infrastructure and sustainable projects through INR-denominated instruments. He described the initiative as “a symbol of growing confidence between the two economies” and emphasized that such financial tools could pave the way for long-term collaboration, trade stability, and regional trust.
Speakers from Sri Lanka’s banking sector, including DFCC Bank, shared that local institutions have collectively extended nearly USD 1 billion in loans to Indian entities. DFCC Bank also announced its plan to issue Sri Lanka’s first INR-denominated Masala Bond on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange within the coming weeks — marking a significant milestone in bilateral financial cooperation.
Former Minister Eran Wickramaratne underscored the importance of aligning future sovereign INR bond issuances with post-IMF programme stabilization, ensuring sustainable debt management and investor confidence.
The dialogue reaffirmed the shared vision of India and Sri Lanka to advance financial innovation, enhance currency cooperation, and transform bilateral trade into a resilient network of economic trust.
ISCCI remains committed to facilitating such strategic forums that strengthen Indo–Sri Lankan cooperation, encourage policy dialogue, and create new pathways for sustainable growth and regional financial integration.
A Chronicle of Indo-Sri Lankan Synergy in Trade, Culture, Diplomacy & Innovation
Dear Members, Partners, and Friends,
The pulse of a region is not only measured by its markets or movements — but by its shared spirit. Over the months of June and July 2025, the Indo-Sri Lankan relationship has revealed once again that our proximity is not just geographical — it is historical, emotional, strategic, and increasingly, futuristic.
From anchoring new conversations on ports and trade, to lighting spiritual lamps in Anuradhapura, to forging financial alliances and reimagining sustainable futures — ISCCI has proudly stood at the crossroads of vision and action.
This newsletter captures the essence of this exciting phase, not just to inform, but to inspire deeper engagement in the journey ahead.
ISCCI’s strategic delegation visited Trincomalee and Hambantota to initiate dialogues around Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, infrastructure financing, and trade facilitation.
“Trincomalee is not just a port — it is a portal into the future of Indo-South Asian trade.”
Discussion Highlights:
The forum emphasized:
“Finance is not just about funding — it’s about fueling futures.”
An Indo-SL Joint Marine Strategy 2030 draft paper is under review.
“The ocean that divides us is also the ocean that unites us.”
Panels explored:
A joint resolution “Media Beyond Borders” was signed.
“Diplomacy in today’s world is not about protocol — it is about people, policy, and partnerships.”
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Email: iscciinfo@gmail.com
Website: www.iscci.org.in
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Tags: #ISCCI2025 #IndoSriLankaRising
“Indo-Sri Lanka is not just a relationship — it is a rhythm. A rhythm of tides, of temples, of trade routes and trust. And through ISCCI, we ride that rhythm with purpose.”
Warm regards,
ISCCI Secretariat
Indo-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry
