Category: Tourism
Sri Lanka to open VAT refund counter for tourists at Bandaranaike Airport
Sept 10, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry is to open a special counter at the Bandaranaike International Airport to implement the new VAT refund system for foreign tourists.When foreign tourists purchase goods that are tax deductible, they are able to claim 15 percent VAT charged on such goods as a refund through this […]
Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka up 5-pct in August with largest source from India
Sept 06, 2018 (LBO) – Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka were up five percent to 200,359 in August 2018 from a year earlier, official data showed. This month, the largest source market for tourists is from India, followed by China and United Kingdom. Tourism Development Authority said almost 99 percent of tourists traveled by air to […]
Govt approves global Tourism Development Project; Awards contracts for digital advertising
Sept 06, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of ministers have given the go ahead for a Global Level Tourism Development Project to promote tourism, a statement on approved cabinet decisions said. The proposal was put forward by Tourism Minister John Amaratunge. The Government also approved awarding contracts to carry out digital advertising programs to […]
Ronan Keating at Chena Huts by Uga Escapes
While Boyzone’s concert was building hype and highlight around the music enthusiasts of the country, the band member Ronan Keating has decided to enjoy the serenity of the island prior to the big event in Colombo.Ronan Keating has referred to Chena Huts by Uga Escapes as a “little piece of heaven” in his social media […]
Asanga Seneviratne selling Anilana Hotels (ALHP) shares
September 5, 2018 (LBO) – Famed stock market operator Asanga Seneviratne is selling some of his shares in CSE listed Anilana Hotels (ALHP).Asanga Seneviratne has on September 4th sold 300,000 shares at a price of Rs1.2/share. This information became public via a CSE disclosure released on September 6th.Initially an erroneous disclosure had said the shares […]
‘s KTA Asian Freestyle Championships come to Kalpitiya
September 3, 2018 (LBO) – Media Release The KTA, Asia’s long established kiteboard competition organisation is heading to Sri Lanka to bring the country’s first ever international competition in the sport – the KTA Sri Lanka Asian Freestyle X Championships. Kiteboarding has been growing steadily in Sri Lanka, as its strong wind reputation and stunning […]
Singapore listed Hotel Properties buys Tangalla Bay Hotels for Rs385mn
Aug 30, 2018 (LBO) – Singapore listed hotelier, Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) through an associate company has acquired 94.71 percent stake in Tangalla Bay Hotels in Sri Lanka for 385 million rupees. West Asia Investments Pte Ltd, a newly incorporated associated company of HPL Properties (West Asia) Pte Ltd, which is, in turn, a wholly […]
‘s Santani Resort named in Time magazines 100 ‘World’s Greatest Places’
Aug 29, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Santani Resort, has been named in the Time magazines 100 ‘World’s Greatest Places’. “We have received unprecedented international recognition since opening the hotel a year and a half ago, but to be featured on “World’s Greatest” list by TIME is really a great honour,” Vickum Nawagamuwage, Founder/Chief Executive, Santani said. […]
New country branding for Sri Lanka Tourism to be unveiled in November
Aug 21, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Tourism’s the new country branding will be unveiled at the World Travel Mart (WTM) in London in November 2018. Ministry of Tourism Development said they are now in the process of selecting a global branding agency for this purpose. The full statement issued by the Minister of Tourism Development, John […]
Hemas Group net profit down 20-pct in 1Q amid high finance cost
Aug 15, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hemas Holdings which has interests in FMCG, leisure, and healthcare has posted a shareholder profit of 554.3 million rupees in the June 2018 quarter, down 20.2 percent from a year earlier, interim accounts showed. The decrease in profit is due to reduced interest income post utilization of cash […]
Sri Lanka Tourism launches Airbnb Experiences to help boost tourism
Aug, 10, 2018 (LBO) – Airbnb and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the national tourism ministry, Thursday announced a strategic partnership to launch Airbnb Experiences in Sri Lanka and drive local, authentic and sustainable tourism across the country. Through this Asia-first partnership, Airbnb and SLTDA will work together to onboard local experience hosts […]
Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka up 6-pct in July 2018
Aug 07, 2018 (LBO) – Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka were up six percent to 217,829 in July 2018 from a year earlier, with double digit growth in the largest source market, India, official data shows. As at 31 st July 2018, 1,382,476 tourists had visited Sri Lanka for this year, a 13.7 percent growth […]