Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam: Foreign language skills key to improving tourism services
WVR - Praising Vietnam’s efforts to develop its human resources, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam Poshitha Perera emphasised the need to improve foreign language skills to help workers adapt to the demands of an increasingly integrated economy.
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| Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam Poshitha Perera speaks to The World and Vietnam Report on the sidelines of the 3rd Capital Economic Forum (CEF III 2026). (Photo: Trung Anh) |
Speaking to The World and Vietnam Report on the sidelines of the 3rd Capital Economic Forum (CEF III 2026), Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam Poshitha Perera shared his views on the potential for strengthening economic and trade cooperation, as well as business connections between Hanoi and Sri Lanka.
According to Ambassador Poshitha Perera, Vietnam has a workforce with a strong foundation of professional expertise and technical skills. He also highlighted the country’s efforts to promote research and development and draw on international resources to enhance its capabilities.
Against this backdrop, the Ambassador commended the approach taken by Vietnam as a whole, and Hanoi in particular, to developing human resources capable of meeting the demands of the evolving economy.
However, to make greater use of its existing potential, Vietnam needs to continue prioritising the improvement of English language skills among its workforce.
This is particularly important in tourism, where the English proficiency of tour guides and hotel staff can facilitate communication with international visitors, thereby improving service quality and the overall visitor experience.
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| The visit to Sri Lanka by General Secretary, State President To Lam in May 2026 strengthened ties between the two countries and gave fresh impetus to bilateral cooperation. (Source: VNA) |
Discussing Vietnam-Sri Lanka relations, Ambassador Poshitha Perera highlighted the role of high-level visits in strengthening political trust, promoting exchanges and advancing bilateral cooperation.
In 2025, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited Vietnam and attended the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City, helping to promote people-to-people exchanges and strengthen ties between the two countries.
Building on these achievements, the visit to Sri Lanka by General Secretary, State President To Lam in May 2026 provided further momentum for bilateral relations and opened up new opportunities for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Exploring opportunities for cooperation
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| Mr. Suren Chandraratna, Chairman of the Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE), speaks at CEF III 2026. (Photo: Trung Anh) |
Alongside high-level diplomatic exchanges, improved air connectivity is expected to provide further impetus for cooperation between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, Ambassador Poshitha Perera said.
The Ambassador noted that direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo were launched in mid-August 2026.
Building on this development, the two sides are continuing discussions on the possibility of establishing a direct air route between Hanoi and Colombo in early 2027, which would strengthen connectivity between the two capitals.
Expanded air links would create more favourable conditions for people-to-people exchanges, tourism, trade and investment between the two countries.
Alongside improved air connectivity, greater engagement by the business community is also creating more tangible opportunities for cooperation.
Around 21 Sri Lankan businesspeople attended the CEF III 2026 in Hanoi to seek partners and explore business opportunities.
The Ambassador expressed hope that face-to-face meetings would enable businesses from both countries to gain a better understanding of each other’s strengths, needs and potential, paving the way for cooperation that delivers practical benefits.
Agriculture, science, technology and renewable energy were also identified as promising areas for collaboration.
According to the Ambassador, Vietnam and Sri Lanka share similarities in the types of crops they cultivate, while Vietnam has achieved notable results in agricultural research and development.
These complementary strengths provide a basis for the two sides to exchange experience, foster business links and explore practical avenues for cooperation.
With bilateral relations continuing to strengthen and progress being made in connectivity and economic exchanges, Ambassador Poshitha Perera expressed confidence that Vietnam-Sri Lanka relations would continue to develop positively, creating further opportunities for cooperation between Hanoi and Sri Lanka across a range of sectors in the years ahead.
