Category: Tourism

Sri Lanka says the island “safe and calm” for visitors following last Friday’s assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, and urged tourists not to cancel travel plans.Sri Lanka says the island “safe and calm” for visitors following last Friday’s assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, and urged tourists not to cancel travel plans. Top Cabinet […]

The German and British embassies update travel advisories to Sri Lanka.The German and British embassies update travel advisories to Sri Lanka. The German and British embassies updated travel advisories to Sri Lanka after the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on Friday night, but did not issue travel warnings against visiting the island. The government […]

Tourism authorities say tourist numbers to the island are increasing but hoteliers and inbound tour operators say the industry is in dire straits.Tourism authorities say tourist numbers to the island are increasing but hoteliers and inbound tour operators say the industry is in dire straits. According to Tourist Board statistics tourist arrivals increased 35 percent […]

Sri Lankan hoteliers to catch an elephant ride into a big money market next year that could see hotel rooms filling up in the off season.Sri Lankan hoteliers to catch an elephant ride into a big money market next year that could see hotel rooms filling up in the off season. The Jetwing and John […]

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, from traditional bread and butter markets of Western Europe, showed signs of picking up in the month of June.Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, from traditional bread and butter markets of Western Europe, showed signs of picking up in the month of June. Tourists to Sri Lanka increased by 42.3 percent […]

Sri Lanka’s government plans to sell a stake in the Hilton Colombo, the only five-star business hotel in the capital, to help fund its budget, a hotel official said Monday.Sri Lanka’s government plans to sell a stake in the Hilton Colombo, the only five-star business hotel in the capital, to help fund its budget, a […]

The United States will spend US$ 20,000 to restore historical sites in Galle and Matara, including the Dutch Fort that took a beating from last December’s tidal waves.The United States will spend US$ 20,000 to restore historical sites in Galle and Matara, including the Dutch Fort that took a beating from last December’s tidal waves. […]

Sri Lanka’s main financial centre near the president’s official residence was declared a high security zone as the opposition today led an unprecedented march to the capital demanding early elections.Sri Lanka’s main financial centre near the president’s official residence was declared a high security zone as the opposition today led an unprecedented march to the […]

An ADB/World Bank study has found that agriculture support services makeup over half of rural GDP and household incomes. An ADB/World Bank study has found that agriculture support services makeup over half of rural GDP and household incomes. The previously overlooked non-agro sector which included transport and trading activities is estimated to contribute as much […]

HIKKADUWA, Sri Lanka,(AFP) – The waterfront restaurant at the entrance to this Sri Lankan coral sanctuary survived the Asian tsunami but six months later its owner is struggling to keep his nose above water because a new “buffer zone” law prevents him from rebuilding.HIKKADUWA, Sri Lanka,(AFP) – The waterfront restaurant at the entrance to this […]

Tourist arrival patterns to Sri Lanka show a shift from traditional Western European markets to regional markets after the tsunami. Tourist arrival patterns to Sri Lanka show a shift from traditional Western European markets to regional markets after the tsunami. “Arrivals from western Europe are still down.We are trying to revive them. But arrivals from […]

Despite claims that tourist revivals are up 8 percent by May, many of Sri Lanka’s resorts on the southern coast remain almost empty since the tsunami. Despite claims that tourist revivals are up 8 percent by May, many of Sri Lanka’s resorts on the southern coast remain almost empty since the tsunami. Visitors who helped […]