Lanka draws strong interest at Los Angeles Lotus Festival

Sri Lanka’s pavilion emerged as one of the major attractions at the 2026 Lotus Festival in Los Angeles, drawing significant visitor interest during the two-day event attended by more than 5,000 people.As the host country of this year’s festival, Sri Lanka showcased its cultural heritage, tourism attractions and investment in promoting the island as a travel destination to an international audience. One of the highlights of the event was a visit by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to the Sri Lankan pavilion, which attracted considerable attention from festival-goers. Visitors were introduced to Sri Lanka’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, scenic landscapes, renowned tourist destinations and diverse travel experiences. The Consul General of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles, Achini Perera, also briefed attendees on Sri Lanka’s 30-day free Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) programme available to travellers from 40 countries, including the United States. A cultural performance organised alongside the festival received an enthusiastic response from the audience. Traditional performances representing Sri Lanka’s Kandyan, Low Country and Sabaragamuwa dance traditions were staged, highlighting the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. The event was attended by Consul General Achini Perera, Deputy Consul General Rekha Mallikarachchi, officials of the Consulate General and a large number of members of the Sri Lankan community in Southern California. Several distinguished Sri Lankan academics and professionals based in the United States, including Dr. Sarath Gunapala, Professor Dr. Bandula Wijay and Dr. Walter Jayasinghe, were also present at the festival. Organisers said Sri Lanka’s participation provided an important platform to promote tourism, cultural exchange and people-to-people ties while enhancing the country’s visibility among international visitors attending the Los Angeles event.