MONETABRIEF - Sri Lanka's Derana Colombo Kite Festival, is expected to draw 81 foreign participants from 30 countries up from 54 last year as the event gathers momentum with passing years, organizers said.
"This year 80 kite flyers have confirmed," Madhawa Madawala, Chief Operating Officer of the Derana Media Network said.
"Already about 60 have arrived and the rest are on the way."
The event kick off on Saturday with a vintage car parade along with the kite flyers.
On Saturday evening a kite flying festival will be held for the diplomatic community and special invitees at the Colombo Port City.
The main festival will be on Sunday August 09 from 1 pm to 7 30 pm.
Last year the Colombo Kite Festival drew 54 foreign flyers from 21 countries and around 1,000 local flyers, and an estimated 500,000 visitors, making it one of the largest in the world.
As result, in the global kite festival calendar, the Colombo event had been elevated to 9th place, the organizers said. (Colombo/Aug07/2026)