Sri Lanka is reaching its annual 2011 target of 750,000 today (Thursday) – more than five weeks before the year is over – while  the number of tourists by end 2011 is expected to reach 800,000, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Nalaka Godahewa said. He told TimesOnline

This is the week of Budget bashing for some and for others it is the week for inventing cute ways to meet the bashes. As is usual for most, it is looking at this all in the ‘what’s in it for me?’ mode. For some, it is also about ‘who said what’ and not ‘what’s ...

‘Sancharaka Udawa’ will be held on 31 January 2012 at the Ceylon Continental Hotel from 3 p.m. onwards Sri Lanka will witness one of the most unique initiatives taken by the travel and tourism industry for the second consecutive year, in the form of ‘Sancharaka Udawa’ 2012. Conceptualised and spearheaded by the Sri Lanka Association ...

Institute of Hospitality – Sri Lanka Chapter, the association working towards professional development and networking amongst hospitality professionals, has organised the Chairman’s Annual Black Tie Dinner on 29 November 2011 at the Oak Room of Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo. This is an annual event in the hospitality events calendar of Sri Lanka and the only ...

Former Coral Gardens Hotel redeveloped and rebranded with Rs. 1.2 b investmentJohn Keells Hotel Group’s latest refurbished and rebranded Chaaya property, Chaaya Tranz, Hikkaduwa, hosted a fabulous launch party on Saturday night, unveiling the hotel’s ‘tranzformation’ with Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa as Chief Guest and Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeyward...

Cinnamon Grand Colombo won the Best Theme Restaurant Award and The Best Spice Ice Cream Corner Award at the World Spice Food Festival organised by Sri Lanka Tourism, at Water’s Edge hotel last week. Cinnamon Grand, showcased Pakistani Food at the festival, with the expertise of leading

Institute of Hospitality – Sri Lanka Chapter, the association working towards professional development and networking amongst hospitality professionals, has organised the Chairman’s Annual Black Tie Dinner on 29 November at the Oak Room of Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo. This is an annual event in the hospitality events calendar of Sri Lanka and the only hospitality ...

Famed star class hotel located on the Golden Mile of Beruwela, Eden Resort and Spa (LOLC Leisure Group Hotel), made history when it created the Signature Cocktail for Sri Lanka Tourism for the Year 2012 at a ceremony held in Mount Lavinia Hotel earlier this month. This event was held

A leader in Sri Lanka’s hospitality trade, the Mount Lavinia Hotel (MLH) is known throughout the world for its scenic beauty and first-rate services. Although a historic hotel aged beyond two centuries, MLH moves parallel to the 21st century hospitality trade practices and innovations, and its values are very much in par with ethical practices ...

. The joint efforts made by Sri Lanka Tourism, Sri Lankan Airlines and The Sri Lankan Embassy in Tokyo w...

Sri Lanka Tourism this week formally welcomed Akira Kanai the President and the Executive Committee of Japan Association for Travel Agents (JATA). Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Dr. Nalaka Godahewa and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Managing Director Rumy Jauffer welcomed them at a brief held

By Cheranka Mendis The tourism industry yesterday welcomed the reduction in the online visa processing fee from the initial US$ 50 flat rate for every country, giving into the concerns and objections of industry stakeholders. The scheme, scheduled to be in effect from January 2012, will now charge US$ 10 from travellers from South Asian ...

Sri Lanka Tourism last week participated at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London with 49 companies representing the Travel, hotel and hospitality industry, to communicate the key messages for tourism on the island in 2012 and beyond. The opening ceremony was held on the Sri Lanka pavilion

Japan Association for Travel Agents (JATA) President Akira Kanai and the Executive Committee arrived in Sri Lanka over the weekend on a familiarisation tour. The delegation comprising 25 members will remain on the island until 16 November. During the visit, the delegation is expected to visit Colombo, Pinnawela, Kandy, Dambulla, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa. The delegation ...

Project Director of SWITCH-Asia Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project Srilal Miththapala made a presentation to a packed audience at the seminar on ‘Making Destinations More Sustainable,’ which was held on 8 November 2011 at the prestigious World Travel Market (WTM) in London. He first gave a quick overview of the phenomenal growth of tourism in ...

By Cassandra Mascarenhas The Ministry of Economic Development along with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Sri Lanka Tourism pledged their support to the Sri Lanka Design Festival 2011, Sri Lanka’s biggest annual celebration of design and apparel, being held for the third consecutive

Sri Lanka Design festival- 2011 will get underway in Colombo on Wednesday. It is being organized for the 3rd time jointly by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Academy of Design. Its objective is to promote Sri Lankan arts and crafts as well as garment designs. Amongst the countries

By Ranee Mohommed For the third consecutive year, the Sri Lanka Design Festival(SLDF) showcases Sri Lanka’s award winning apparel industry to a specifically invited global audience of buyers, retailers, sourcing specialists and backward integration supply chain partners -a key event of this apparel industry agenda at the festival is its Apparel Industry Fashion Show. The ...

By Sanath Weerasuriya in London SriLankan Airlines along with Sri Lanka Tourism and Aitken Spence Hotels launched their latest promotion with London Taxis to boost the airline’s image in the UK market yesterday. London Taxis operating from the World Travel Market at East London Dockland

Coats, which has raised the bar and set industry standards in the area of sewing solutions, has joined hands with Sri Lanka Design Festival to project the many capabilities of the local apparel and fashion industry to the world. In order to share Coats’ global expertise in the apparel vertical integration sector, the company has ...

This was written upon following recent events that unfolded in our midst which made one wonder if we adequately managed our natural assets at our national parks and protected areas… many lovers of nature and concerned persons presented varied views in the print and e- media. On the global front we also observe the intensified ...

Several top hotels including Cinnamon Grand and Cinnamon Lakeside have won several awards at the World Spice Food Festival’s Spice Competition. The festival kicked off on 28 October and will conclude today. The grand awards ceremony was held last night at the Water’s Edge with Sri Lanka

Range of exhibitions, forums and workshops for students and general public For the third consecutive year, the Sri Lanka Design Festival is preparing to provide South-Asian region with a rare opportunity to witness and learn from the creative talent and expertise of globally renowned creative industry professionals. SLDF 2011 has invited a group of elite ...

nSriLankan Airlines partners with Sri Lanka Design Festival: launches luxuriously designed flatbed at SLDF this November SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka’s national airline, in a bold attempt to enhance its products and services to drive the country’s ongoing boom in tourism and economic development will launch its latest addition: The luxury flatbed on Business Class. Partnering ...

By Sanath Weerasuriya in London The curtain rises at the World Travel Mart in London yesterday with a new hope for Sri Lanka Tourism to go beyond its target of 800,000 tourist arrivals to the country by the end of this year. The business for the Sri Lanka Tourism at the modern architecturally

The forum will be held on 18 NovemberThe South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum, conceptualised by Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) as one of its main highlights of 2011, is already participated by apparel manufacturing leaders and their key partners promising to be a great platform and networking opportunity for apparel industry’s backward integration sector and ...

B2B meetings to be held with over 60 Belgian companiesA business delegation led by Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen is scheduled to visit Belgium from 16-17 November. The delegation will include Director General/Sri Lanka Export Development Board Sujatha Weerakoon and representatives from the private sector.   This is the first time in over ...

By Sanath Weerasuriya in London Sri Lanka Tourism participating this years’ World Travel Mart (WTM) in London to promote Sri Lanka to new markets apart from the traditional West European segment. WTM 2011 will showcase Sri Lanka as ‘Miracle of Asia’ and  focus Sri Lanka

The South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum, conceptualised by SLDF as one of its main highlights of 2011, is to be held on 18 November and will see many key apparel experts and high profile international press gather to provide their insights on topics that are crucial for Sri Lanka’s campaign to lead South Asian apparel ...

The twelfth AmCham RCGC Golf Tournament 2011 organised in partnership with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau was held on Saturday, 29 October at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. Around 130 golfers took part in the tournament this year. The Winners are as follows: Division A Winner: Lallith Rohitha