Category: Tourism
HappyMarket.lk Helping Small Entrepreneurs Bust the Sales Barrier
By Jekhan Aruliah If your objective is to make money you’d better be sure you know how to sell. If you need to feed and house and educate your family. Or you need to impress your colleagues with the latest baubles, gadgets and fancy cars. Whether you are coding apps, handmaking ornaments, cultivating mangoes, or […]
Sri Lanka tourism may be able to weather the Easter Sunday shock
April 27, 2019 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan economy and its tourism sector may be able to withstand the shock from the Easter Sunday terror attacks according to Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy. In an interview with anchor Sri Jegarajah of global business network CNBC, the highly respected central banker said it was too early […]
Sri Lanka suspends visa on arrival programme after Easter Sunday tragedy
Apr 26, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has postponed the launch of its program on visa regime facilitation with 39 countries in the wake of the deadly bombings that shook the country on Sunday, Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said. “Visa on arrival pilot programme set for May 1st launch for 39 countries put on hold due […]
We are ready to welcome visitors from tomorrow: The Kingsbury Colombo
Apr 24, 2019 (LBO) – The Kingsbury Colombo said that they are ready to welcome visitors to the hotel from tomorrow and that the security in the premises and the periphery of the hotel has been strengthened in coordination with state authorities. Statement to Media Colombo, April 24, 2019: Recent events have been deeply disturbing however […]
Sri Lanka Tourism reassures world that the country is open for business
Apr 23, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Tourism on Tuesday reassured the world that the country is open for business and all possible measures have been taken to ensure the safety and security of tourists. Releasing a statement, the country’s tourism office said tourist attractions, hotels, resorts will remain open as usual and there are […]
Sri Lanka to issue visa on arrival to tourists from 39 countries
Apr 05, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to issue visa on arrival to tourists visiting the island from 39 countries. Cabinet has decided to issue these visas on gratis basis as an incentive to attract tourists. The programme will be a pilot project effective for an initial period of […]
How will Brexit impact UK-SL trade: RIU report
Mar 29. 2019 (LBO) – The United Kingdom is one of the major trading partners of Sri Lanka, amounting to over 10 percent of the total annual trade. The trade between two countries has been on the upsurge for the last 18 years. In this context, the GSP+ scheme under which Sri Lanka observes a great […]
OBG Sri Lanka report:Looks at steps being taken to encourage innovation and boost export earnings to USD20Bn in 2019
Mar 27, 2019 (LBO) – A new report from research and consultancy firm Oxford Business Group (OBG) shines a spotlight on Sri Lanka’s wide-ranging plan to achieve upper-middle-income status. The Report: Sri Lanka 2019 looks in detail at the steps being taken to encourage innovation across the manufacturing industry as part of the national strategy to […]
Small Northern Businesses Struggle for Funding
By Jekhan Aruliah There is an old joke: “The fastest way to become a millionaire is to be a billionaire and buy an airline”. The airline will lose money so fast the billionaire will see his fortune quickly destroyed. We need look no further than our own Sri Lankan national carrier’s capacity to lose money to […]
SLTDA promises to issue renewal licenses in one day
Mar 26, 2019 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) is now fully geared to issue renewals for accommodation and service providers in one day when the relevant documents for each category are submitted.By next week, SLTDA will publish press advertisements in all 3 languages to create awareness among all stakeholders on what […]
Making Sri Lanka go to the ‘MICE’
Whilst Sri Lanka continues to show a year-on-year growth in tourists, the focus thus far has only been on the number of tourists coming in, instead of the cash inflow and subsequent economic development. As of 2018, the local tourism sector is said to contribute 12% to the annual national GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of […]
‘s new tourism advisory committee gets down to work
Mar 14, 2019 (LBO) – With an eye on achieving the targeted 3 million tourist arrivals this year, a newly constituted Tourism Advisory Committee has been appointed by Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs, John Amaratunga. The 14 member committee comprises of private sector tourism stakeholders and is headed by business magnate Harry […]
