Category: Tourism
Will Jaffna International Airport help the Northern economy take-off at last?
By Jekhan Aruliah The opening, strictly speaking the re-opening, of Jaffna International Airport (IATA airport code JAF) in October 2019 was one of the more startling events in the North since the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. In the North we held our breaths as the promise, unfulfilled for years, approached […]
Travel Agents Association of India plans to host Annual Convention in Sri Lanka
Oct 16, 2019 (LBO) – Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) is planning to host its Annual Convention in Sri Lanka later this year. Over 400 industry leaders and media delegates will be attending the annual sessions scheduled to be held from 11th to 13th November in Colombo. The decision to hold the TAAI Convention […]
LOT Polish Airlines to start direct flights from Poland to Sri Lanka
Oct 11, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Embassy in Oslo together with LOT Polish Airlines celebrated the commencement of LOT’s direct flights from Warsaw to Colombo. Accordingly, LOT will fly seasonally three times a week from November to March by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The event was attended by diplomats, corporate partners, members of the travel […]
5-star hotel to be built in Kandy under BOI agreement
Oct 09, 2019 (LBO) – The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka signed an agreement with Star Class Hotel (Pvt) Ltd., to set up 67 room 5-star hotel which will be located at Mavilamada Road, Kandy. The Agreement was signed by Mangala Yapa, Chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and Mohamed Nazar […]
Sri Lanka appointed to key posts in World Tourism Organization
Oct 07, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has been appointed as one of the two Vice-Chairpersons for the South Asia Commission of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the period 2019 to 2021. Sri Lanka has also been concurrently elected as the Representative of the Commission on UNWTO’s Programme and Budget Committee for the […]
Sri Lanka tourist arrivals down 27-pct in Sep 2019
Oct 07, 2019 (LBO) – The total number of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka during September 2019 was 108,575, down from 149,087 visitors or 27.2 percent from the same period last year. In September almost 98 percent of tourists travelled by air to the island. As at 30th September 2019, 1,376,312 of tourists had visited […]
Cinnamon’s 15th property, Velifushi Maldives opens
Oct 07, 2019 (LBO) – Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, the leisure arm of John Keells Holdings continues expansion with the opening of its newest hotel, Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives. The opening of the new resort on the island of Aarahveli is the fourth property added to its portfolio in the Maldives, and the 15th to its […]
Sri Lanka Govt allows internal flight operation for foreign airlines
Oct 02, 2019 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka govenments cabinet of ministers has given the nod for foreign airlines to operate domestic flights, a statement said. Sri Lanka’s civil aviation authority will issue one year operating licenses to foreign airlines that are interested in flying within Sri Lanka, the state information office said in a […]
Noolaham Foundation preserves the past to enrich the future
By Jekhan Aruliah We can be so blinded by the white hot heat of innovation that we fail to see the red embers of renovation. We are so focussed on finding treasure and riches in the bright new future that we forget about the jewels to be found in the dimmer recesses of the past. […]
”’ mall to open November 8th
September 26, 2019 (LBO) – In an opening that will transform the retail sector in Sri Lanka, Shangri La has announced it will open its shopping mall called ‘One Galle Face’ on November 8th. Sri Lanka has never seen a commercial development of anything close to the size of what Shangri La has done in […]
”s Future of Tourism
September 25, 2019 (LBO) – Delivering a keynote address to tourism industry leaders in Sri Lanka, CNN Travel Correspondent Richard Quest addressed the audience on the major trends and issues in the global tourist industry. In an address that was specific and relevant to Sri Lanka, Quest highlighted issues of security, the environment, and over-tourism. […]
Future of Sri Lanka Tourism
September 23, 2019 (LBO) – Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was the chief guest at the annual 2019 Cinnamon Hotels Future of Tourism Summit. The highlight of the summit was a discussion between the Prime Minister and CNN’s foremost international business correspondent Richard Quest, host of the program: Quest Means Business. The Summit was put together […]