The Expo 2012 show that commenced yesterday highlights Sri Lanka’s export products across more than 20 sectors. “Expo 2012 is a viable platform for UAE to identify the export product portfolio of Sri Lanka. In fact, we did not know that Sri Lanka has such a huge export portfolio until today,” said Rashid Al Telaji, ...

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday assured that Sri Lanka will not allow forces of separatism and terror to raise their ugly heads again but was pursuing a path of peace and reconciliation. “As you can see at this event and as you travel freely in our country and also as you interact with your business partners ...

From cycling to events on a push cycle as a DJ at a time when DJs were unheard of in Sri Lanka and the line of work was frowned upon, to becoming Sri Lanka’s very first Entertainment Manager and then building brand ‘Harpo,’ Harpo Gooneratne is a man who has always passionately believed in following ...

With the recent relaxing of the rupee exchange rate and subsequent increase in fuel prices, trade unions and the opposition parties are conducting protest campaigns against the Government, demanding a reduction in oil prices and the cost of living. This article investigates the living conditions of citizens in the recent past and present, quality and ...

One of the key aspects of the ongoing EU SWITCH-Asia Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project is to publicise the good work done by Sri Lankan hotels towards energy and environment conservation. As a part of this program, Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project together with two selected SME hotels; Hotel Clarion, Colombo and The Swiss Residence, ...

The Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Rome has announced that as a result of the promotional drive launched few months back, it has been able to organise a 48-member delegation from Italy and Cyprus to visit Sri Lanka for EXPO 2012 from 28 to 30 March 2012. The delegation consists ...

Taizo Nishikawa, the Deputy to the Director-General of UNIDO, is be in Colombo on an official visit to kick off the Sri Lanka’s first-ever food certification firm as well as participate at the Sri Lanka Expo 2012. Nishikawa will witness the MoU signing between Ind-Expo Certification Ltd. and Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) on ...

Sri Lanka Expo 2012 will kick off from 28 to 31 March at Sirimavo Bandaranayke Memorial Exhibition Centre of BMICH, under the theme ‘Partnering with the Hub of Asia.’ This event will be organised by the Export Development Board. Having foreseen the importance of Expo 2012 to promote Sri Lanka as a destination, Sri Lanka ...

NDB‘s contribution to infrastructure development has been substantial during the last three decades. Having garnered the experience and expertise to cater towards the development process in Sri Lanka, NDB continues to focus on this vital component providing the necessary support that will help towards economic development in the country. NDB CEO Russell de Mel says, ...

After having worked for the private sector in some of the best multinationals in the country, when I decided to serve the country in the public sector, many warned me on the inefficiency of the Government agencies of Sri Lanka. But having worked on a full time basis for three years in the Government and ...

Intelo Networks (Pvt) Ltd., has developed the first ever digital Tourist Information Kiosks (TIKs) launched recently by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau under the aegis of Ministry of Economic Development. To identify the locations of the Tourist Information Kiosks, Intelo has planned to up TIK directional signs at the discretion of the state regulations ...

Unity is strength: Let us unite as a nation and a group of likeminded nations in the world Sri Lanka is a senior member Sri Lanka is a senior member of the world family, maintaining high standards of human rights on international standards, which is not an alien system to us. Our culture is based ...

By Cheranka Mendis Dubai’s low cost airline, flydubai yesterday announced the increase of frequencies to Sri Lanka, going from five to seven weekly flights since 11 March following a surge in passenger numbers. flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith noted that with the changes in flight timing by moving on from four flights a week during ...

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa was an invitee panellist at the prestigious India Today Conclave 2012 held in New Delhi from 16-17 March 2012. The India Today Conclave, which is held annually, has seen the participation of leading Indian and international personalities such as Shah Rukh Khan, Mohamed El Baradei, Sarah Palin, Dominique De Villepin, Union Minister ...

The 11th SAARC Trade Fair and Tourism Mart 2012 will be held in Bangladesh from 30 March to 1 April at the BICC in Dhaka. It is expected that 11th SAARC Trade Fair and Tourism Mart 2012 will be very effective and successful and would contribute to the development of new avenues for business and ...

The STING Corporate Accountability Index is an independently researched analysis of the standing of corporate Sri Lanka against a model of responsible business practices. It is published in order to encourage more companies to adopt a holistic system of corporate responsibility. The adoption of such a system and making this the usual way of operating, ...

With the vast growth in tourism, the need for technological advancement in the tourism industry has also increased immensely and to fulfil this present need, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Development has taken a step forward, together with Intelo Networks (Pvt) Ltd., in a joint project to establish a ...

The entry in to Sri Lanka by Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad via John Keells Holdings (JKH) is being hailed as a all round boost for the country, the Colombo stock market as well as the premier blue chip. JKH which has many first to its credit is also the first stock on ...

Today is 19 March 2012. The day and the month of March are significant in the lives of many people – some celebrating birthdays, some wedding anniversaries, while others nurse what is yet left over from the hangover of the three day drawn encounter that we experienced a week ago or the limited over Royal ...

By Cheranka Mendis Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals rose 27% to 83,549 in February from a year earlier, continuing the growth momentum established in 2010. Data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority yesterday showed arrivals topping 169,423 during the first two months of the year, a 21% increase from the period a year ago. ...

The Asia-Pacific regional MDG report 2011/12 jointly compiled by the UNESCAP, ADB and UNDP was launched in New Delhi on 18 February at a high level sub-regional forum with the participation of government policymakers in the South Asian countries, representatives of multilateral and regional development agencies, civil society leaders and academia in the region. The ...

Cabinet has approved a Rs.11.2 billion infrastructure project funded by France for the former war-torn Eastern Province, a Minister said yesterday. Acting Cabinet Spokesman Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana told the media that the project would fund much-needed infrastructure for the town of Trincomalee in the Eastern Province. The money would also be used to upgrade ...

With just 12 days to go, Sri Lanka’s largest mega trade, investment and tourism promotion initiative ‘Expo 2012’ has attracted close to 1,200 people, exceeding the expected 1,000 mark, EDB Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said yesterday. Speaking to the Daily FT, he asserted that the number of participants had increased by 500 from last week, when ...

My column today is an attempt to focus our attention on a few less spoken or untold developments that may have a profound influence on how we carve our way through in creating a desirable social, economic and political future for mankind on this only planet of ours. While I will not specifically touch on ...

A high-profile delegation led by Professor Yoshimasa Suenobu, Senior Advisor to Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), met Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa on Tuesday (13) at the Ministry of Economic Development. On this occasion JICA officers agreed to provide assistance to expand the facilities of Katunayaka Bandaranayaka International Airport, improve the electricity tra...

Outlines OZO Colombo plans to provide a 4-star product at a 3-star priceQ: As a veteran and experienced hotelier as well as a prominent personality in the tourism sector, what are your thoughts on the hotel industry in Sri Lanka and what needs to be done? A: These are exciting times with great opportunities for ...

Ajantha Perera takes the position of Director of Sales and Marketing at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo of the John Keells Hotels Group. Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo is currently ranked the Best Five Star City Hotel by Sri Lanka Tourism. Perera joins the hotel with a wealth of experience spanning approximately fifteen years in the hospitality industry. His ...

As the world decides vote on Sri Lanka on the methods used on the eradication of terrorism in the country, my mind goes back to the December 2008 when three of us were organising the staging of the first Industrial Exhibition in Jaffna so that the north gets connected to south on an economic front. ...

Veteran hotelier Prema Cooray was inducted to the Hall of Fame of the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) last week on the sidelines of the ITB 2012 in Berlin. The induction of Cooray was done during the annual international awards ceremony of PATWA held at the ITB, the world’s biggest travel fair and is ...

As many as 600 business leaders from 30 to 35 countries will gather in Mumbai in April 2012 to forge strategic alliances at ‘Indiallia,’ the International Multi sector B2B forum. The Export Development Board and National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) are organising a business delegation to participate in this important B2B Forum. ...