Colombo Kite Festival 2025

Colombo, August 24, 2025 – The Colombo International Kite Festival 2025 brought the skies above Galle Face Green alive with colour, imagination, and cultural unity as 55 international kite flyers from 25 countries joined more than 500 Sri Lankan kite enthusiasts for a day of spectacle and celebration. The seafront promenade, one of Colombo’s most iconic public spaces, transformed into a festive ground where art, music, dance, and culinary traditions blended seamlessly with the soaring kites that carried messages of peace and freedom.

Kites have long been symbols of joy and imagination. From their use on ancient Chinese battlefields to their role in festivals across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, they continue to represent connection and creativity across borders. By hosting this international gathering, Colombo has placed itself alongside cities that are home to some of the world’s most celebrated kite festivals—Gujarat in India, Weifang in China, Dieppe in France, Pasir Gudang in Malaysia, and Washington State in the United States. The presence of flyers from countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Thailand, South Korea, Brazil, Tunisia, Turkey, Algeria, Libya, Nepal, India, Singapore, Reunion Island, France, Cambodia, Ukraine, Australia, and Vietnam underscored the truly global nature of the event.

The festival was more than just a visual delight. It was carefully designed as part of the Colombo Destination Branding Project, organized by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in collaboration with Derana Media Network. The aim was to position Colombo as a hub for cultural celebration and international friendship, using the universal appeal of kites to showcase Sri Lanka’s openness to the world. Visitors experienced not just the artistry of the kites but also the richness of Sri Lankan heritage through traditional dance performances, live music, and food stalls that reflected the island’s famed culinary diversity.

For Sri Lanka, the Colombo International Kite Festival carries significance beyond culture. Globally, such festivals generate tourism, stimulate local economies, and strengthen city identities. In Colombo, the event drew large numbers of domestic and foreign visitors, filling hotels, restaurants, and transport services, while also giving international media exposure to the city’s growing reputation as a cultural capital. Tourism experts believe the festival could become an annual highlight that boosts arrivals during the off-season and creates fresh opportunities for Colombo’s economy.

As the kites danced against the evening sky and the Indian Ocean breeze carried them higher, the festival became more than a day of celebration. It was a statement of unity, imagination, and hope, showing how Colombo can use culture as a bridge to connect with the world. For participants and spectators alike, the Colombo Kite Festival 2025 was proof that a simple object—the kite—can carry with it stories of peace, creativity, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.