Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU Ravinatha Aryasinha has said  “Belgian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka grew by 114.5 per cent during the first nine months of 2011” and that “Sri Lanka has become one of the most preferred destinations in Asia for Belgian tourists”. The Ambassador added that: “The number of ...

Airline, unions appear again before govt-ordered labour tribunal Qantas says 447 flights grounded, 68,000 passengers affected since Sat PM calls for end to dispute World leaders at Perth meeting among those affected Rival airlines put on more flights MELBOURNE, Oct 30 (Reuters) – Qantas Airways and its unions appeared before a labour tribunal on Sunday ...

Reuters: Residents fled Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, on Thursday after authorities warned the city would soon be flooded and called a special five-day holiday to let people escape. Traffic in central Bangkok was light as the holiday began but a main road out of the city to the flood-free south was jammed. Many people were heading ...

The Galle Fort first built in 1588 by the Portugese, and extensively renovated by the Dutch from 1649 onwards, has now become an icon of Sri Lanka. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Fort and its inner properties have become synonymous with history and adventure. Perfect for Jetwing Hotels, as they introduce their ...

Dubai International said it has become the first airport in the region to introduce modular sleeping pods that offer comfort, privacy, entertainment and connectivity for passengers. Called SnoozeCube, each of the accommodation units contains a full-sized bed, a touch-screen television offering a selection of entertainment and music, as well as high speed internet access. Most ...

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) says there is no need for travel agents and tourists to change Thailand travel plans due to flooding to the north of Bangkok. PATA head office is located in Bangkok city centre which is operating normally. PATA Interim CEO Bill Calderwood said today: “As you are aware from TV ...

Bollywood cinema’s latest female sensation Ms.Sonakshi Sinha arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday via Sri Lankan Airlines UL 142 at 5.44 a.m. from Mumbai –India for a four- day special promotional assignment in the country. The Bollywood beauty was given a very warm reception on arrival at the BIA, with a traditional welcome dance and greeted ...

CBL-Ritzbury is partnering with the Central Environment Authority (CEA) to spearhead an awareness campaign on the importance of conserving ‘wetlands’ in Sri Lanka. This is the first time a Sri Lankan company has extended its corporate social responsibility assistance towards this cause. CBL-Ritzbury has always gone beyond its regular business practices and got in social ...

I like to be an optimist. No matter what may happen around us, I would like to retain feelings of hope I have for all human-kind and on a more intimate level for you, for me, the newborn and the to-be-born. Yet, what has already happened around me, happening now and may happen in the ...

The mobile phone as the pitch goes could be the most powerful marketing tool ever invented. Until recently, however, the cell phone has been mostly about talking the talk (or texting the text). Now, from an advertising perspective, there are signs that they may be starting to walk the walk. Worldwide, there are twice as ...

By Sally McLaren On 11 September, the world marked the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States, and Japan marked sixth months since the triple disasters of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant accident. On the same weekend, one corner of the vast Yoyogi Park in central Tokyo was transformed into ...

The Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) has launched a new campaign with a budget of 19 million euros ($26.7 million) designed to boost international tourism to Cyprus this year. According to Alecos Orountiotis, CTO chairman, the “Cyprus in Your Heart” campaign will promote Cyprus’ history and culture, friendliness and hospitality, its mix of modern and contemporary ...

Bullish on post-war revival in tourism and to cater to growing demand for its hospitality Renuka City Hotels Plc, is investing Rs. 200 million to add 20 more rooms, bringing the total to 100 inclusive of the adjoining Hotel Renuka. Chairman Ravi Thambiayah told the Daily FT that the company was waiting for approvals to ...

Reuters: England piled more misery on India with a thrilling six-wicket victory in a one-off Twenty20 match at Old Trafford on Wednesday. After losing the test series 4-0, India started brightly in the shortest version of the game and racked up 165 all out, only to see England reach their target with three balls to ...

Asia Capital recently sold its 53% stake in Asian Alliance Insurance and a 40% stake in Asia Siyaka, realising Rs. 2.3 billion. It now plans to forge ahead with a new portfolio of investments in films, hotels and IT. Asia Capital’s senior management outlined these plans and its forthcoming Initial Public Offering, plans to float ...

By Devin Jayasundera Siedles Ltd., Sri Lanka’s leading electronic appliances supplier yesterday launched the new Sony Bravia high definition televisions to excite local customers. Sony the forerunner of innovative technology has being one of the leading brands in consumer electronics, which has spread its wings in providing 3D entertainment for televisions. Sony Bravia LCD HDTV ...

Reuters: The lure of the Premier League has brought many of the world’s biggest names to play football in England – and it also draws huge numbers of fans from abroad to watch it. More than 750,000 visitors to Britain attended a match last year according to figures from national tourism agency VisitBritain, underlining the ...

The ‘Lanka Challenge 2011’ trishaw race started off in grand style on Saturday 20 August 2011 at 8:30 a.m. from the premises of Tangerine Tree Hotel, Minuwangoda. The competitors kicked off to a solid start, with the official flag-off given by the Acting Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism Vipula Wanigasekara along with the presence ...

A high level delegation from Russian oil and natural gas giant Gazprom led by its Director General Gulev Valeriy this week met Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa at his office in order to discuss investment opportunities, especially in the oil exploration in the Mannar and Cauvery Basin, natural gas market as well as tourism ...

Lanka Challenge 2011: The 12-day rickshaw challenge continues; adds east coast territoryAfter officially captivating the world in 2009 and 2010 through the first and second editions of the Lanka Challenge, Large Minority in partnership with the Sri Lanka Tourism plans to continue their meaningful adventure with the Lanka Challenge 2011; a 12-day rickshaw challenge taking ...