Business
Aitken Spence Travels facilitates the first charter flight from Uzbekistan – A new source market
Aitken Spence Travels, the leading DMC in Sri Lanka together with their Uzbekistan agent Asia Luxe welcomed the country’s first charter flight from Uzbekistan on Wednesday 9th February 2022. There will be a weekly flight operating every Wednesday until the end of March 2022. The charter airline operation is partnered with this leading tour operator of Uzbekistan and generates approximately 1,200 guests to Sri Lanka.
All charter flights of Uzbekistan Airways will land at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), Mattala from where all passengers would depart on their tours. A special welcome was arranged at the Mattala airport, as this is the first international flight from this source market. Further, necessary arrangements were made to welcome all Uzbekistani visitors, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s and the Tourism Authority’s health and safety guidelines and rules.
Commenting on this flight operation from Uzbekistan Nalin Jayasundera, Managing Director of Aitken Spence Travels said, “I am delighted to welcome visitors from Uzbekistan to Sri Lanka. This is a new market for us and for Sri Lanka as well. While the world is still fighting the covid 19 pandemic, we managed to break into this new source market after conducting a marketing campaign, making presentations, and organising promotions among a large group of agents in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. As you know Uzbekistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. It’s a historical country linked to the Silk Road. Our efforts were rewarded when we won the confidence of the Uzbekistan agents as they saw Sri Lanka as a safe and secure travel destination to be explored and enjoyed by their holiday makers. We are happy to support the stakeholders of the tourism industry and contribute to the Sri Lankan economy at this critical moment as this step will lead to the road to recovery of the tourism in Sri Lanka as a whole”.
‘Travelers from Uzbekistan are particularly interested in visiting Sri Lanka because of the country’s rich heritage as well as basking in the sun kissed golden sandy beaches. In addition, the Uzbekistani accommodation options range from four to five-star properties. Uzbekistani tourists can be classified as high-value tourists. More of these types of new source markets need to be identified and explored by Sri Lanka, as it would assist in reviving the industry’s much-needed tourism-related jobs and contribute to the country’s economic stabilisation through foreign income.’
Aitken Spence Travels will also declare open its brand-new Travel counter at the Mattala airport in pursuit of welcoming visitors who land in Mattala. The counter will have facilities to book tours, private transfers, and accommodation options as well.
Business
SLT-MOBITEL driving Sri Lanka’s economic resilience through digital infrastructure
Corporate accolades underscore the alignment between its operational excellence and national development
In an era where national competitiveness is intrinsically tied to digital connectivity, strengthening the country’s digital backbone has become an urgent priority. Within this context, the evolving role of Sri Lanka’s leading telecommunications provider, SLT-MOBITEL, offers valuable insight into how technological infrastructure can underpin broader economic resilience.
Telecommunications and digital networks are foundational to economic transformation. By expanding high-speed broadband access, upgrading enterprise cloud capabilities, and bridging the urban-rural connectivity divide, SLT-MOBITEL helps reduce business transaction costs, streamline supply chains, and enable micro, small, and medium enterprises to reach global markets.
Recent corporate accolades further underscore this alignment between operational excellence and national development. SLT-MOBITEL’s triple triumph at the National Business Excellence Awards 2026 – winning in the Infrastructure and Utilities sector, Performance Management, and ICT Services categories – highlights its growing impact. Notably, the recognition of eChannelling’s contributions to digital healthcare reflects a broader strategic pivot toward integrated technology solutions.
“Institutional efficiency of this nature is critical for attracting foreign direct investment, as global partners increasingly assess a country’s digital maturity and systemic stability before committing capital,” noted industry observers.
Moreover, the company’s transition from a conventional telecom utility to a comprehensive digital solutions provider aligns seamlessly with Sri Lanka’s national digitalisation agenda. As the country pursues public sector modernisation, enhanced e-governance, and a competitive knowledge economy, the private sector must step up to deliver secure, scalable, and future-ready networks. Investments in data centres, cybersecurity frameworks, and advanced ICT infrastructure act as strategic buffers, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s economic apparatus remains agile and resilient amid future global uncertainties.
However, industry experts caution that while these achievements are commendable, SLT-MOBITEL still has a considerable distance to cover in fully enabling a truly digital economy.
Business
Port City Colombo strengthens Gulf investment ties at Dubai diplomatic engagement
Port City Colombo (PCC) took a prominent role as Platinum Sponsor at the second edition of Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams, a high-level diplomatic and investment engagement hosted by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The event, held on 2nd September 2026 at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, brought together over 400 senior UAE-based business leaders, investors, diplomats, and institutional stakeholders, alongside Sri Lanka’s most senior government representatives.
The gathering was graced by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, as Guest of Honour, and Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. A high-level Sri Lankan delegation – including the Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Board of Investment, the Chairman of the Export Development Board, and the Director General of Commerce – underscored the government’s strong commitment to deepening economic diplomacy with the UAE.
In his keynote address, Minister Herath reaffirmed the centuries-old ties between Sri Lanka and the Arab region, emphasising the UAE’s vital role as a key economic partner. He stressed the urgency of finalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE, which would establish a robust framework to elevate trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation. Declaring Sri Lanka “open and ready for business,” he positioned Port City Colombo as the physical embodiment of this economic mission – a modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a dedicated legal framework and competitive incentives, offering UAE investors a natural gateway to South Asia while maintaining strong Gulf connectivity.
Business
American Premium Water strikes Gold at Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026
American Premium Water has secured four wins at Dragons of Sri Lanka Awards 2026, including three Gold Dragons and one Black Dragon, marking a significant milestone for the brand following its relaunch last year.
Part of the prestigious Dragons of Asia awards, Dragons of Sri Lanka brings the program’s regional platform to the local market, celebrating creative and effective marketing communications, with entries evaluated on strategic thinking, creativity, execution and impact. Established in 2000, Dragons of Asia is one of Asia’s premier results-driven marketing awards programs.
For American Premium Water, the achievements are particularly significant given that the company’s debut at the Dragons awards has resulted in four Dragons across four categories. In the distinction of Gold Dragons, American Premium Water was recognized across three categories including Product Launch or Re Launch, Cause, Environment or Sustainability and Creative Excellence while the Black Dragon was awarded in recognition of Small Budget.
Competing alongside leading brands and agencies in Sri Lanka, American Premium Water’s four wins demonstrate the strength and effectiveness of its recent work. Winning three Gold Dragons across three distinct categories highlights the breadth of the brand’s achievements, while the Black Dragon for Small Budget further emphasizes its ability to create meaningful impact through focused and efficient investment.
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