COLOMBO—A delegation from the Australian Institute of International Affairs Victoria has completed a study tour of Sri Lanka, meeting political leaders, policymakers, diplomats, economists, academics and industry representatives to gain a deeper understanding of the country’s political, economic and cultural landscape.
Led by Prakash Mirchandani and Richard Iron CMG OBE, the tour combined high-level briefings in Colombo with visits to centres of cultural and historical significance across the country. The delegation sought to examine Sri Lanka through local perspectives, rather than relying solely on narratives shaped outside the country.
“As tour leaders, we can report that AIIA Victoria’s 2026 Study Tour to Sri Lanka was an outstanding success,” Mr Mirchandani and Mr Iron said in the tour report.
“We were privileged to meet senior and influential figures across Sri Lanka’s political, intellectual, economic and industrial fields. We found much that surprised us and returned to Australia much better informed and hopeful for the country’s future.”
The program included discussions with the Advocata Institute and the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, where participants examined Sri Lanka’s economic outlook, maritime position and relationships with regional partners. Meetings explored the country’s reliance on tourism and remittances, the importance of trade liberalisation, and the challenge of balancing economic and security priorities.
The delegation also met Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa; opposition MP and Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance Chair Dr Harsha de Silva; Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurial Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe; Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar; and Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe. Discussions addressed economic recovery, International Monetary Fund reforms, fiscal discipline, political change, investment and the demand for tangible improvements in living standards.
At the Australian High Commission, High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth and First Secretary—Maritime Security Sharini McEwen briefed participants on Australia’s relationship with Sri Lanka. The discussion highlighted cooperation in maritime security, capacity building, regional stability, education and climate resilience, as well as the strong connections created by the Sri Lankan diaspora in Australia.
Meetings with constitutional and human rights lawyer M.A. Sumanthiran PC also provided insight into the experiences of Sri Lanka’s Tamil community, post-war reconciliation and continuing debates over accountability, transitional justice and national identity.
Participants examined Sri Lanka’s education, technology and manufacturing sectors through visits to Edith Cowan University’s Sri Lankan campus, Virtusa Corporation, MAS Holdings’ Linea Intimo facility and tea exporter Akbar Brothers. These engagements highlighted education’s role as a bridge between Australia and Sri Lanka, the development of Sri Lanka’s skilled technology workforce, and the scale and sustainability practices of its export industries.
A central finding of the tour was that Sri Lankan views of regional affairs do not always correspond with prevailing Australian or Western assumptions. Participants heard that China is commonly viewed primarily as an economic partner, while the current Sri Lankan government—despite its historical Marxist roots—has adopted a pragmatic approach shaped by economic recovery, IMF-backed reforms and fiscal discipline.
The program also incorporated Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage, including visits to Galle Fort, the Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya and the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. These visits exposed participants to the country’s pre-colonial history, religious traditions and diverse cultural influences, alongside contemporary challenges such as human–elephant conflict.
AIIA Victoria plans to maintain relationships established during the tour and explore further institutional cooperation and exchanges, including potential engagement with the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute. AIIA Victoria has also identified a possible future tour of Sri Lanka’s north and east as an opportunity to examine different regional perspectives and continue building people-to-people connections.
AIIA Victoria has organised overseas study tours since 1987 as part of its work to foster public diplomacy, institutional relationships and greater understanding of other countries’ politics, societies and cultures.
