Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa is the latest property in the southern coast and will open its doors on 1 November 2011. A total investment of Rs. 1.2 billion has been infused to transform the old Coral Gardens to Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa. The 150-room resort will house superior and deluxe rooms and suites; all with direct sea ...

Sri Lanka’s iconic The Fortress Resort and Spa based in Koggala was again thrust into the global spotlight when it won a brace of trophies at the coveted World Luxury Hotel Awards 2011 held in Croatia last week, which included the accolade for ‘World’s Best Luxury Coastal Hotel’. It also walked away with the premier ...

Sri Lanka’s flagship telecommunications service provider, Dialog Axiata, in collaboration with Starhub, a fully integrated operator in Singapore, now offers customized international connectivity solutions to customers. The partnership is focused on delivering the lowest cost connectivity solutions with strict service levels between Sri Lanka and Singapore using each other’s network.
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The Royal Colombo Golf Club once again gave golfing enthusiasts of all stature an opportunity to compete for the challenge trophy of HSBC’s annual 5-Club Stableford Golf Tournament 2011, held for the seventeenth year. The tournament which concluded over the last weekend saw over 230 enthusiastic golfers in the Men’s, Ladies’ and Senior’s categories, displaying ...

By Engineer P.G. Joseph An official website about the life and vision of the late Dr. Ray Wijewardene, one of the most accomplished and innovative engineers and scientists produced by Sri Lanka, will be launched on 28 September and will be located at www.raywijewardene.net. In this article, one of several available on the website, a ...

Admits that he tampered with the ball during triangular series in SL Former Pakistani cricket player Shoaib Akhtar lived up to his notorious title of being “controversy’s favourite child” with the launch of his autobiography in India. In a book titled “Controversially Yours”, Akhtar hits out at prominent names in the world of cricket and ...

Wish and win a ticket to the Maldives The time has come for the send-off party for Pushpika de Silva, who was crowned Miss Sri Lanka at the Derana/Veet Miss Sri Lanka 2011 contest. She leaves Sri Lanka in October to participate in the 60th Miss World pageant to be held in London’s South Bank, ...

AFP: ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said on Wednesday cricket’s world governing body could discuss India’s opposition to the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) at a high-level meeting next month. The hugely influential India cricket board this week changed its stance on even the partial use of the UDRS, saying the current technology was not ...

Union Bank of Colombo PLC (UBC) held the ‘Mega Dinum’ promotion grand draw prize awarding ceremony on Tuesday at its Colpetty Branch. The winner of the super prize of a brand new Suzuki A Star motor car and two years free fuel was produced by the UBC Old Moor Street branch. The winner, M. Yoganathan, ...

‘Construction Expo 2012’ is set to be held on 29, 30 June and 1 July 2012 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre. Since the event’s inception it has grown by leaps and bounds showcasing the most innovative technology and services around the world under a common platform. The event is set to be one ...

The premier world-wide sustainability merit ‘Green Globe Certification’ was achieved by Cinnamon Lodge Habarana with a compliance of 78% of the 248 preset standards. The five star resort located in the heart of the cultural triangle was constructed keeping the idea of ‘going green’ in mind. The 27 acre property was an arid piece of ...

The Mlesna Tea Centre at Majestic City was re-launched with a sophisticated and stylish new look recently. The Tea Centre now carries a wider range of premium quality tea for the benefit of tea lovers and connoisseurs of Sri Lanka as well as for overseas visitors. The much sought after Mlesna Tea Centre at Majestic ...

Autogrill Lanka Limited, the leading duty free retailer at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), gave its patrons the chance to feel the loud, powerful and exhilarating experience of the Formula 1 (F1) Singtel Singapore Grand Prix, which will be held from 23 to 25 September in Singapore, through a unique promotion. Customers who purchased selected products ...

The policy changes, reforms and modernisation since Budget 2011 appears to have been the context of a presentation made to the Joint Apparel Association Forum in July 2011 by the “leading light” in finance, planning, treasury management and economic development. Sri Lanka background 2000-’10 The presentation articulates the background issues experienced from 2000 to 2010. ...

Last week I received an invite for an ‘Inventors Day Celebration’ in one of the leading schools in the country and the master in charge shared a thought that I felt was a cutting edge idea. Apparently, every one of us is an inventor in some part of our daily life. The issue is that ...

Sanath Jayasuriya and Shahid Afridi, two of the most destructive batsmen in the history of cricket, are set to dazzle fans at the Karp Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes at the Kowloon Cricket Club from 28-30 October 2011. Joining them in the All Stars line-up are a coterie of premier cricketers from around the globe ...

In what is likely to be major breakthrough to the litigation-filled long-drawn-out impasse at Hilton Colombo-owning company Hotel Developers Plc (HDL), a proposal for an amicable win-win settlement has been presented to the Treasury. Sources said that as per the proposals with four options studied by Treasury, major shareholder Cornel Perera (owning 56% but held ...

Targets hotel sector; offers seven FCS products to local customersBy Cheranka Mendis Supporting the boost in tourism, integrated solution provider Fentons Limited forged a partnership with one of the world’s leading hospitality solution providers, FCS Computer Systems, on Wednesday, offering Sri Lankan hospitality industrialists world class solutions for their companies. The partnership, whi...

The gem mining sub-sector grew by 7.9% in 2010. The gem and jewellery exports too reported 1.56% positive growth in 2010. Even in the first-half of 2011, increased earnings from mineral exports were led by higher exports of gems which increased by 35.5% in the first half of 2011, according to the Central Bank. The ...

Following an impressive 125-run victory inside four days at Galle, Australia can wrap up a series victory over Sri Lanka when the second Test starts in Kandy on Thursday. The visitors seized the upper hand on a surface described as a dustbowl, but the early indication is the Pallekele International Stadium pitch looks a more ...

By Cheranka Mendis Pioneers in ayurvedic hospitals and resorts, Hettigoda Group yesterday ceremonially opened its newly renovated Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort in Wadduwa. The resort which has been completely renovated and refurbished at a cost of Rs. 150 million in a period of two months is looking at expanding and adding more features within the ...

Business leader Dhammika Perera sells 51% personal stake in Amaya Leisure to Hayleys Group for Rs. 2.6 b and buys 9% more of the latter for same amount Deputy Chairman’s control in Hayleys tops 40%; Hayleys Group firms pay Rs. 107 per Amaya share after getting independent report valuing share at Rs. 160; to announce ...

Galle, (AFP): Australian debutant Nathan Lyon said taking five wickets in the first Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday was like living a dream. Australia's Nathan Lyon jumps (above) as he celebrates with teammates after completing five wickets during the second day of their first test cricket match against Sri Lanka in Galle September 1, ...

Ex-England skipper Martin Corry during a three day visit to Sri Lanka to train the Navy rugby team finds time to have a chat with Daily FT. His visit was arranged and funded by Frontier Automotive Ltd., sole agent for Land Rover in Sri Lanka, Principal Sponsor of the Sri Lanka Navy Rugby teamBy Sachin ...

The premier world-wide sustainability merit ‘Green Globe Certification’ was achieved by Bentota Beach Hotel. The Green Globe certification requires conformity to 248 preset standards, some of which being energy efficient measures, emission reduction, effective water management and waste management systems with to emphasis on reduce, recycle and reuse. The team at Bentota Beach Hotel im...

Stock Broking firm Capital Alliance suggests that the 2.6 million tourist arrivals target isn’t a pipedream but achievable though it will be only by 2020, which is 4 years later than the Government and industry set timeline of 2016. “The Government projects 2.5m arrivals in 2016, but the industry will lack the rooms and trained ...

Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka ’s exotic southeast coastline, is set to welcome 96 top world surfers from 19 countries spanning Argentina , Peru , USA across the globe to New Zealand , to compete in SriLankan Airlines Pro Surfing contest held in association with Australasia ’s Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) from 30th August – ...

Cross Border Academy (CBA) is one of the primary hospitality education providers in Sri Lanka, with a highly-reputed team of lecturers who possess decades of hands-on experience in the hotel and tourism industry. The academy is partnered with Dimensions Education Group of Singapore, which was established in 1980 and Wissen Academy of Singapore, the subsidiary ...

Exponential 575% rise in comparison to FY2010’s figure of Rs. 155 m; Posts Rs. 829 m net profit attributable to equity holders; Turnover more than doubles to Rs. 10.6 b FY2012 1Q revenue up 162% to Rs. 4.4 b; after tax profit up 257% to Rs. 368 m Assets worth Rs. 34.3 b, up from ...

With the tourism boom now experienced in Sri Lanka and projections to attract 2.5 million tourists per annum by the year 2016 seemingly going well according to plan, the country is currently positioning itself on the global tourism map as a star product. “But in order to do this, we need a long term marketing ...