Category: Tourism

Jan 03, 2011 (LBO) – A new online visa scheme Sri Lanka plans to introduce, replacing existing on-arrival visas, will be tested for three months before the government decides to implement it, an official said. Sri Lanka received more than 600,000 tourists in 2010 and aims to attract 700,000 this year. Nalaka Godahewa, chairman of […]

Jan 02, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourist industry wants the government to postpone a new rule to charge for visas, scrapping on-arrival visas, saying it could deter visitors whose numbers boomed after the end of a war, a report said. Approval for a visa would not take more than a single day. ‘New visa […]

December 31, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has revived plans to scrap the visa on arrival for foreigners, except Maldivians and and Singaporeans, and will launch an on-line visa application system, officials said Friday. The local tourism industry has been buoyed by a near 50 percent increase in foreign visitors since fighting ended in May […]

Dec 28, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hotel Reefcomber has struck a deal to build a four-star beach resort with water-front villas, a stock exchange filing said. Hotel Reefcomber has finalised the purchase of land called ‘Santhoduwa’ at Santhoduwa village in Akkaraipatu within the secretariat division and pradeshiya sabha (local council) limits of Kalpitiya, it […]

Dec 28, 2010 (LBO) – Hong Kong-based leisure group Shangri-La has signed a deal to acquire land to build a seven-star hotel in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, the chairman of the tourism authority Nalaka Godahewa said. Shangri-La signed the agreement Tuesday to acquire 10 acres of government property near the Galle Face green promenade, […]

Dec 28, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Esna Holdings, a consultancy and advisory services firm, plans to set up a luxury beach resort in Nilaveli, a prime beach front on the island’s east coast, a statement said. Sri Lanka has seen an influx of tourists after the end of its 30-year ethnic war in May […]

Dec 17, 2010 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan government is encouraging owners of heritage homes to convert them into tourist accommodation as it gets ready to meet an influx of visitors after the end of a war, officials said. Sri Lanka received its 600,000th tourist this month and plans to attract at least 700,000 visitors […]

Dec 16, 2010 (LBO) – Eleven leisure firms have submitted proposals worth 500 million US dollars to build hotels and other leisure facilities in 10 islets off Sri Lanka’s North Western coast, an official said. Chairman of Sri Lanka’s tourism development authority Nalaka Godahewa said the bids closed on December 03 and successful parties will […]

Dec 16, 2010 (LBO) – Hong Kong based leisure group Shangri-La will invest 500 million US dollars in a hotel project on the main beachfront of Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo, a government minister said. The land is expected to be sold for 75 million US dollars according to reports. “The Shangri-La group has come forward […]

Dec 15, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourism arrivals rose 63. 1 percent in November to 72,251 from a year earlier, while total visitors for the 11 months increased 45.7 percent to 569,849, tourism promotion office data showed. Eastern Europe generated 42.4 percent higher visitors at 4,920 with Russia up 38.4 percent to 2,063. North […]

Dec 14, 2010 (LBO) – Thailand-based Six Senses Resorts and Spas is planning a regional headquarters in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo to own and manage up to 200 million dollars in leisure assets in the Indian Ocean, chairman Sonu Shivdasani said. It is also building a 40 million dollar hotel with Sri Lanka’s Aitken Spence […]

Dec 13, 2010 (LBO) – The Swiss hotel chain Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has won a management agreement to operate the Mövenpick Hotel Colombo, a 180-room property in Sri Lanka, a statement said. Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, a hotel management company with over 12,000 employees, has over 90 hotels existing or under construction in 26 […]