Lanka banking on IIFA for image makeover (05.06.2010 -
asianage.com)
Recovering from the scars left by its long
ethnic conflict, Sri Lanka is making the most of the three-day
International Indian Film Academy awards-2010 that began in Colombo on
Thursday.
The star-studded event began with a fashion show as models and stars
walked the ramp at the Sirimavo Bandaranayake Arena in Colombo in the
IIFA Foundation Extravaganza which kick-started the film carnival.
The fashion designers whose creations were shown included India’s Manish
Malhotra and Vikram Phadnis and Sri Lankan designers Yoland and
Kanchana. Actors Vivek Oberoi and Diya Mirza hosted the fashion night
that had bureaucrats, politicians, industrialists and actors from both
the countries in attendance. ...............................>>
Rapid growth recorded in Sri Lanka's tourism industry (08.05.2010 -
Asiantribune.com)
Colombo : Nearly a year after the three decade
long civil war ended, the tourism industry which suffered immensely
during the past has recorded one of the highest tourism growth rates
this year.
An interim report of the United Nations World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) lists Sri Lanka with a 50 percent growth in tourist arrivals
among 77 countries that have reported international arrivals data.
For the first two months of this year , Sri Lanka which was once ravaged
by war topped the UNWTO list which was followed by Saudi Arabia ranking
second place with a +45% growth rate and Israel coming third after
recording a +37% growth rate. ............................>>
Boom
times for Sri Lanka - by Mel Gunasekera (13.04.2010 - AFP)
Sri
Lanka's hotel owners are racing to refurbish and add thousands more
rooms as foreign holidaymakers pour into the country after the end of
nearly four decades of ethnic bloodshed.
Leading hotel groups plan to spend millions of dollars on new decor and
facilities for the influx of tourists drawn to the plentiful sunshine,
beaches and tropical wildlife on the Indian Ocean island nation.
The ambitious expansion comes amid a post-war revival that has pushed up
hotel room rates and given the hospitality industry something to cheer
for the first time in years. ............................>>
Buddhism degrader Akon denied entry to perform concert; sponsoring TV channelattacked (26.03.2010 -
Asiantribbune.com)
Colombo : Minister of Tourism Achala Jagoda said
that Ministry of Tourism would not play any part in promoting a concert
of an artist who had caused blasphemous videos on Buddhism or any other
religion in Sri Lanka.
He made these comments in the light of the controversial Grammy
nominated American rapper Akon not being granted a visa to perform in
Sri Lanka on April 24 due to one of his music videos having visuals
which were detrimental to Buddhism. ..............................>>
Sirasa
says anti-Akon protestors
barking up the wrong tree (27.03.2010 - The Island, SL)
Despite
the Tourism Ministry denying its involvement with the now cancelled Akon
concert, following last Monday’s attack on the MTV/MBC head office at
Braybrook Place for being the sponsor of the event, it has come to light
the MTV/MBC had only been the media sponsor, whereas the Sri Lankan
Airlines, the Cinnamon Grand and Dialog Telecom PLC, too, threw their
weight behind the controversial project.
A spokesman for MTV/MBC told The Island that the government and a
section of the State-run and the privately-owned media had justified the
attack on MTV/MBC on the grounds that they organized the event. ..........................>>
Government
planned, sponsored, later cancelled visa to Akon and now tries to act pseudo patriots – Sarath Manamendra (25.03.2010 17:17 PM SLT - Lanka Truth)
All
arrangements to bring down the US hip-hop singer Akon that created a furore in
the society had been made by the government says DNA candidate for
Colombo District Sarath Manamendra.
Speaking at a press conference held in Colombo today (25.03.2010) Mr.
Manamendra said, “It is the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) that has taken the
initiative to bring Akon to Sri Lanka. It is a sports club in which many
are Buddhists. The visit has been sponsored by Sri Lankan Airlines
and Sri Lanka
Tourist Board. The Chairman of Sri Lankan Airlines Wickremasuriya
is a very close relative of the President. Sri Lankan Airlines is under
Minister Chamal Rajapakse. Also, the Ministry of Tourism is under a
minister from ‘Panchayuda’ party of the patriotic government. Hence, it
is the patriotic Mahinda Rajapakse government that has made all the
arrangements to bring down Akon to Sri Lanka. ............................>>
A mob attacked the MTV/MBC head office at
Braybrooke Place, Colombo yesterday evening severely damaging the
property of the place, an MBC official said.
He also said that the MTV staff members also came under attack around
3.30 pm and the staff had to retaliate by throwing the very same stones
at the mob after which the gang fled the scene.
It is assumed that the attack had been carried out to mark the protest
over the upcoming concert by R&B singer Akon in Colombo sponsored by
the MTV/MBC networks. ................................>>
Sri
Lanka second top place to visit : Another feather in Sri Lanka's
cap (18.03.2010 - Daily
News, SL)
The National Geographic Channel, the world
renowned television Channel in an exclusive report on best places to
visit has categorized Sri Lanka as the second best place to visit.
Out of the 20 countries, many well-known tourist destinations are listed
far behind Sri Lanka. Hong Kong occupies ninth place, Bali seventh,
Mauritius fourth and Zanzibar third.
In an exclusive report on Sri Lanka, commentators, Times Travel Writer
Jil Crawshow and Editor of Wandertrust Magazine describe Sri Lanka as
'definitely a best place to visit'. ...........................>>
Astrologers
arrested for violating visa
regulations (17.03.2010 - Daily News, SL)
Four (04) Indian
Astrologers, engaged in forecasting predictions for a fee, while on
tourist Visa's, have been arrested by Immigration and Emigration
Sleuths.
According to Sri Lankan Visa regulations engaging in employment or
business while on tourist Visa's, which are issued at the port of entry
is banned and is considered a punishable offence. ........................>>
Tourists continue to pour-in since the end ofbrutal terror (11.03.2010 -
news.lk)
According to the latest figures released by the
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the number of tourist arrivals
in Sri Lanka went up 67.7 % to 57,300 in the month of February 2010,
compared to February 2009 which was only 34,169. Figures showed an
increase in the number of arrivals from Western Europe, South Asia, East
Asia, Middle East and North America.
