By Cheranka Mendis With tourism numbers increasing, Sri Lanka Tourism must now look at aggressive destination promotion, especially at travel and trade fairs abroad. While the industry expressed delight over the tourism authority’s interest in supporting more participation in international travel fairs, the lack of representation of the authority itself is a major drawback to ...

With the influx of tourists into the country, the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) on Monday announced the successful completion of a ‘safety assessment’ of the most frequented tourist sites in Sri Lanka carried out by TUI Travel PLC Head of Specialist in Activity Health and Safety Malcolm Ellis. Commissioned in a ...

CB asks banks overnight for their forex commitments for Thursday and Friday; steps up bank visits Convenes meeting with treasury heads of banks; rupee crisis figures in monthly CB-bank CEOs meeting as well Dealers say no room for speculation given the very narrow net open positions; new rules apart from lack of dollars could be ...

Less than a year after starting up on its own, the company prepares to replicate its Indian success in Sri LankaJubilant FoodWorks, the master franchisee of Dominos Pizza for South Asia, last year set up its own subsidiary company in Sri Lanka, moving away from the franchisee partnership which held the fort for the Group ...

The Central Bank, in its latest Annual Report, has downgraded its growth forecast for 2012 from eight per cent to 7.2 per cent. This is due to a combination of adverse global developments and the negative effects of domestic policy misalignments. The contractionary measures introduced to address the imbalance in the trade account (i.e. to ...

By Cheranka Mendis While Sri Lanka’s largest mega trade, investment and tourism promotion initiative ‘Expo 2012’ has been welcomed by stakeholders as a timely affair, stallholders shared mixed feelings on the order of the show. Some were elated having received inquires just two days into the event, while others expressed disappointment with regard to the ...

By Uditha Jayasinghe Showcasing the need for vigilance, over 1,500 foreigners who remained illegally in the country after their visas expired were detected within the first two months of 2012, a top immigration official said yesterday. Controller General of Immigration and Emigration Commissioner for Registration of Persons of Indian Origin W. Perera told the Daily ...

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

By Cheranka Mendis Despite the Central Bank’s forecast reading 7.2% growth for 2012, RAM Ratings Lanka CEO Adrian Perera is confident that the country can touch the 7.5%-7.6% mark by the end of the year. Perera told the Daily FT that the new projection is a realistic number from the 8% noted

Executive Vice President and CEO says IFC will explore a good mix of enhanced financing and advisory services on a range of sectors apart from promoting FDIs to the country Encouraged by the post-war optimism the World Bank’s private sector investment arm – International Finance Corporation (IFC) yesterday revealed plans to expand its support in ...

By Cheranka Mendis Sri Lanka is the new destination on the global 70.3 calendar hosting the Ironman triathlon on Sunday. The first ever to be held in Asia, Ironman has managed to lure down over 250 triathlon athletes from world over. Race Director Shannon Kurek told the Daily FT

The Daily FT spoke to the Immediate Past President of Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and Chairman and Managing Director of Conniassance de Ceylan Ltd., on the state of post-war Sri Lanka tourism industry, the progress and key challenges as well as future prospects

Private equity and investment banking boutique, Mercantile Merchant Bank Ltd., (MMBL) and family-owned leisure giant Jetwing Group are together taking the road less travelled to create new opportunities in the former war torn North by commissioning the biggest ever private sector investment in the region. The two firms, via an equally-owned joint venture will be ...

Effects first major move to become a self-made entrepreneur; his new venture N Capital acquires 70% stake Aspires to make iconic 35-room resort luxurious with Rs. 500 m investment to add 50 more rooms under a new wing and plush refurbishment Says deep south will be centre of economic, tourism and recreation boom with air ...

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is optimistic on Sri Lanka given the strong post-war upside for the economy and capital markets and is urging the country and companies to harness the global giant’s strengths and reach to grow better. “Following the end of the conflict, Sri Lanka has evolved with an attractive and strong growth ...

The world famous London Stock Exchange Group (LSE), whose origins could be traced back to 300 years, will hold its first-ever Board of Directors meeting in Colombo today. LSE Chief Executive Officer Xavier Rolet confirmed to the Daily FT yesterday that though the organisation has held Board

by Nisthar Cassim Youthful MP Namal Rajapaksa is reiterating that mega developments in Hambantota which are having benefits to the rest of the country were taking shape and urged the private sector to cash in early with a mindset of “positivism.”  “We are going ahead with our plans and efforts as we firmly believe in ...

How the key industry progressed last yearBy Cheranka Mendis Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which saw a 30.8% growth over the previous year in 2011, has been driven by key markets India, UK and Germany and is likely to be the foremost contributor in 2012 as well. Named as ‘Visit Sri Lanka year,’ 2011 saw the ...

Heralding a new trend in the business world, the Rotary Alumni of Sri Lanka will be staging the first ever Corporate Athletism programme on 17 January at Hilton Residencies from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. featuring some the best in the corporate world. If there is one quality that high performing corporate executives seek for ...

Ends 2011 with record 855,975 arrivalsBy Cheranka Mendis The high-flying tourism industry closed the year with a record 855,975 arrivals, marking a rise of 100,000 from the original target for the year. Statistics revealed by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) yesterday noted that the figure reflects a 30.8% increase from the previous year. ...

Post-war rebounding Sri Lanka has entered for the first time the Most Valuable Nation Brands ranking compiled by UK-based Brand Finance debuting at number 76 with a value of $ 23 billion. A world renowned specialist in the subject Brand Finance’s 2011 ranking reveals brand ‘Sri Lanka’ is worth $ 23 billion (Rs. 2.6 trillion) ...

The country’s private sector and professionals yesterday called for prioritisation of a host of major issues in the New Year, which in their opinion if effectively addressed will usher in true peace and prosperity. The overriding message is swift delivery, be it policy reforms or implementation of measures well-conceived and available in public or industry ...

the Daily FT yesterday that guests in member hotels were continuing to enjoy their holiday ...

Special communiqué listing actions taken issued to travel and hotel trade as a confidence building measure Working closely with the defence authorities to ensure greater protection for tourists in possible vulnerable areas Both tourism and law enforcement authorities have thus far successfully handled the unfortunate gruesome attack on a tourist couple in Tangalle over the ...

A shocked leisure industry yesterday decried the deadly attack on tourists in Tangalle over the weekend as the biggest setback for the sector which was rebounding following the end of the war. They urged the Government and law enforcement authorities to ensure harshest punishment against those responsible whilst calling for adequate measures to ensure safety ...

Yet again proving its resilience amidst global shocks and the recession in the West, the country’s economy in the third quarter has grown by 8.4%, a rate viewed by analysts as faster than expected. The high 8.4% growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was above the 8% achieved in the corresponding period of last year. ...

New CEO Kapila Chandrasena upbeat on prospects for national carrier and Sri Lanka as a tourist destination post-warWhen the news of the impending change at the top in the national carrier broke, the Daily FT headlined the lead story on 6 May 2011 as ‘Turb-UL-ence,’ with a pun

By Cheranka Mendis Sunquick Sri Lanka, the much loved super concentrated fruit quash will today bring home the prestigious Co-Ro Best country award also known as the Global Sunquick best awards. The award is an annual presentation by the brand owners of Sunquick, Co-Ro Food A/S, a Danish Company awarded for the country that marks ...

Midst gloomy market conditions, the two IPOs worth Rs. 478.5 million of new hotel companies linked to high networth investor Dilith Jayaweera had been oversubscribed on their opening day itself yesterday. Kalpitiya Beach Resort Ltd., offered 16.2 million shares at Rs. 17.50 each raising Rs. 283.5 million and Waskaduwa Beach Resort’s issue was 15.6 million ...