Category: Tourism

COLOMBO, April 24, 2014 (AFP) – A British nurse jailed in Sri Lanka for sporting a Buddha tattoo left the country Thursday after suffering what she says was sexual and other harassment by prison officers.Naomi Coleman said she was exhausted but relieved to be heading home after she was arrested at the main international airport […]

COLOMBO, April 22, 2014 (AFP) – A 37-year-old British nurse recounted Tuesday her “hellish” experience in Sri Lanka after she was arrested and sent to a deportation centre for sporting a Buddha tattoo deemed offensive by authorities. In August 2012, three French tourists were sentenced to six months in jail, which was suspended for five […]

COLOMBO, April 22, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has detained a female British tourist for having a Buddha tattoo on her right arm and ordered her deportation, police said Tuesday.The unidentified woman was arrested at the country’s main international airport on Monday and appeared before a magistrate who ordered her deportation, police said in a […]

Apr 10, 2014 (LBO) – Malaysia-based long-haul budget carrier AirAsia X said it was offering a two day discount fares for Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan and China.“With this exclusive 48 hours sale, guests can take a break from their busy schedule and enjoy mid-year holiday getaways with a group of friends or loved ones to […]

Apr 08, 2014 (LBO) – Citrus Leisure Plc, which opened a 150-room resort in Waskaduwa, on Sri Lanka’s South Western coast is planning another two resorts on the Western and Southern coasts, officials said. The hotel has 250 employees and says in-house training will help keep service levels high as demand for tourism sector workers […]

Apr 06, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals rose 17.5 percent to 133,048 in March 2014 from a year earlier backed by strong growth from Eastern Europe, East Asia and India, official data showed. Newly emerging Poland extended gains rising 67.2 percent to 1,903. In the first quarter Poland had generated 6,354 visitors up […]

Mar 28, 2014 (LBO) – US based Best Western, is planning a 700-room strong chain partnering with Sri Lanka’s Elyon Hotels as the island draws more visitors after the end of a 30-year civil war, officials said. The firm is expecting regional travellers to make bulk of its bookings in Sri Lanka. “After the war […]

Mar 22, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s hotels have seen a good winter season with high occupancy levels, backed by stable pricing and strong arrivals from Western Europe, Russia and China, officials said.“Occupancies have increased really,” Jayantissa Kehelpannala, head of Sri Lanka’s tourist hotels association said. “Sometimes it is very difficult to even get a […]

Mar 20, 2014 (LBO) – A hotel supplies exhibition in Sri Lanka and an international hoteliers’ conference in June will showcase the latest energy saving technology and also help draw talent to the fast growing industry, officials said.The three day Hotel Show 2014, billed as the largest such event is South Asia is to kick […]

Mar 21, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Lanka Orix Leasing Company Plc said it had sold a 70 percent stake in LOLC Leisure, a hotel company, to Browns Investments Plc, a related company, for 2.8 billion rupees. In a separate transaction dated prior to the exit, LOLC Leisure was buying back shares from both LOLC […]

Mar 19, 2014 (LBO) – A beach festival in Bentota in Southwestern Sri Lanka will kick off next week targeting water sports lovers and tourists, particularly those from Russia and Ukraine, officials said. The Bentota Beach Festival will start on March 21. It is organized by the Hawkeyes, the sports arm of Sri Lanka’s Military […]

Mar 14, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals rose 24.5 percent to 141,878 in February 2014 from a year earlier, with India, Russia and China leading gains, the state tourism promotion office said. Late last year Sri Lanka suddenly reported higher tourist arrivals and revised upwards data from earlier months amid growing uncertainty about […]