News
Lanka participates at Riyadh Travel Fair – 2024
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh organised Sri Lanka’s participation at the Riyadh Travel Fair 2024 in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Board. The fair was held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 27 to 29 May. This year’s fair was held after a gap of five years. The objective of the travel fair is to facilitate networking among tour and travel operators.
18 Sri Lanka tourism Destination Management Companies (DMCs), SriLankan Airlines, and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau attended the event
Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia Omar Lebbe Ameer Ajwad, inaugurated the Sri Lanka pavilion of the destination management companies. In his address, Ambassador Ameer Ajwad highlighted the historical context of tourism in Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia and stressed the importance of providing updated information in Arabic about Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. He also emphasised the initiatives introduced by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh to promote Sri Lankan tourism in the Kingdom, such as an Arabic website named “Ahlan Sri Lanka,” and the launch of Ibn Battuta and Adam’s Peak trails, which could be utilised by the DMCs. The event included the screening of videos showcasing Sri Lanka’s tourist attractions and the distribution of tourist material among the visitors. Additionally, Sri Lankan school children performed cultural dances, showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage.
The event was attended by 250 exhibitors from more than 25 countries.
News
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 to purchase four (04) automated passenger clearance gates for Bandaranayake International Airport.
In addition, it is expected to extend the automated passenger clearance gates facility so far given only to the Sri Lankans
parallel to the e – passport issuance system to be introduced in the year 2027 also to the foreigners who travel to and from this country.
Furthermore, considering also the number of air passengers rapidly increasing with the fast – forwarding business and tourism field, the appropriateness to increase the total automated passenger clearance gates up to twelve (12) in number has been recognized.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers, approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to initiate the procurement and installation of 12
automated passenger clearance gates altogether with the already approved four (04) and another eight (08) automated passenger clearance gates adhering to the formal procurement procedure
News
Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance
Based on the observations submitted by the Task Force on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing for Terrorism, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 18.12.2024 to amend the Trust Ordinance No. 9 of 1917 including amendments proposed by the Financial
Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the Trust (Amendment) Draft Bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby, submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
News
Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation
Action was taken to provide a fuel relief for the fuel consumers during the months of April, May and June of 2026 to redress by minimizing the impact caused to the day today life of the citizens of this country as well as the entire economy due to the price hike of petroleum fuel in the global market resulting from the war situation in the Middle East.
Government mediation is essential for minimizing the impact on the day to today life of citizens in this country due to that war situation not being ended further. Therefore, it has been planned to redress on the sale price for Auto Diesel and Industrial Diesel for a period of 03 months by the Government to provide relief to the public as well as to maintain the prices at a bearable level to the consumers without escalating the fuel prices in this country compared to the escalation of fuel prices
in the international market.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to
allocate provisions subject to the monthly limitations respectively as rupees 15 billion for the month of October, rupees 13.5 billion for the month of November and rupees 12.15 billion for the month of December to provide the said relief
-
News7 days agoMastermind Naufer Moulavi among 15 found guilty
-
Midweek Review7 days agoThileepan’s fast unto death: An authentic narrative that many missed
-
Latest News6 days agoShowers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
-
Editorial7 days agoBig Bad Bills
-
Editorial6 days agoCrimes punished and unpunished
-
Features5 days agoBeyond traditional jobs: Why Sri Lanka needs to facilitate the gig economy
-
News7 days agoNo referendum needed for passage of 22 A: SC
-
News7 days agoOne clause in Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill requires referendu: SC
