BUILDING TRUST ACROSS BORDERS: OVER 300 EO LEADERS CONVENE IN COLOMBO FOR 2026 PRESIDENTS’ MEETING
The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) successfully hosted the South Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa Presidents’ Meeting 2026 from 5th to 8th February 2026 at the Cinnamon Life Hotel in Colombo. The four-day gathering brought together over 300 attendees, including Chapter Presidents, President-Elects and Chapter Managers, representing 79 chapters across three regions.
Leaders travelled to Colombo from 18 European countries, including France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom; 13 countries acrossthe Middle East, Pakistan and Africa, including Egypt, Israel, Kenya, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; and 3 South Asian nations – Bangladesh, India and Nepal. Held under the theme “Trust. Grow. Together.”, the meeting served as a strategic platform for regional alignment, leadership development and cross-border collaboration. As the largest annual convergence of chapter leaders in the region, it focused on strengthening trusted relationships, sharing best practices and equipping leaders to elevate chapter performance and member experience.
Founded in 1987, EO is a global peer network of more than 20,000 entrepreneurs across over 100 countries and 220 chapters. Members are founders and owners of businesses, committed to growth, leadership excellence and community impact.
“This meeting reaffirmed the power of collaboration across cultures and markets,” said EO Sri Lanka President Tarindra Kaluperuma, Executive Director of Stafford Motor Company (Pvt) Ltd. “When entrepreneurial leaders build trust and grow together, the impact extends far beyond our chapters.”
Beyond its leadership agenda, the meeting delivered a meaningful boost to Colombo’s visitor economy. Many delegates travelled with spouses and extended their stays to explore the city and other parts of Sri Lanka, generating demand across hotels, restaurants, transport providers and local attractions. Several Colombo restaurants and venues were fully booked for private group events during the week, while hotels welcomed guests over multiple nights. The gathering offered participants a first-hand experience of the destination and contributed to positioning Colombo as a capable host city for high-value international conferences and business tourism.
