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SLTDA streamlines tourism investment approval process with common application

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Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has made the tourism investment process easy by streamlining the project approval process and the facilitation services provided by the Investor Relations Unit (IRU) – the unit established within SLTDA as the centralized facilitation arm for tourism investments in the country.

The key objective of this effort is to provide a single point of contact for the investors in the tourism sector and to provide an efficient, effective and hassle-free investment facilitation process for tourism investments.

In general, an investor in the tourism sector has to fill individual applications for several line agencies for approval of a tourism project. The number of agencies applicable for a tourism project is comparatively higher if the projects are located closer to a sensitive attraction. The process, therefore, becomes tedious, complex and time-consuming and as a result, incurs a considerable cost for the investor. This situation sometimes also encourages third party involvements which lead to corruption.

Finding solutions for the above issues; a centralized facilitation unit was established by SLTDA in late 2010. The IRU has approved 503 projects with a total value of US $ 3789.04 Mns during the past 10 years. The inter-agency collaboration was further strengthened recently with the continuous dialogue which resulted in bringing together all project approving government agencies to prepare one common application for tourism investments.

In addition, the approval processes of key approving agencies were mapped to spot the duplications and delays due to unnecessary steps and multiple signatories. The process was thereby streamlined and as a result, the time taken to issue a preliminary clearance was able to be reduced from 45 days to 25 days. The total average number of reduction of days taken for project approvals is expected to be reduced further in the future.

Technical support for the above streamlining process was provided to SLTDA by USAID’s Supporting Accelerated Investment in Sri Lanka (SAIL) Project with a team of experts with international expertise & exposure. Talking about the contribution made by the SAIL project, Glenn F. J. Mackenzie-Frazer, Chief of Party, IDG Country Director stated:

“The hard work and dedication of the SLTDA Investor Relations Unit is now bearing fruit and making the investment process a streamlined and transparent process which is investor focused. This is one more step on the path of placing Sri Lanka at the forefront of tourism globally. It has been USAID-SAIL’s privilege to partner with SLTDA on this journey”. 

Having the tourism mandate as per the Tourism Act No 38 of 2005, SLTDA’s Investor Relations Unit (IRU) makes sure all upcoming developments in tourism by the private sector is complied with specified quality standards and developed in compliance to the existing regulations of the country. This helps reduce low-quality and illegal tourism establishments, which will impact in eradicating informal sector of tourism in the future.

Responding to the achievements recently made by the Investor Relations Unit (IRU, Kimarli Fernando, chairperson of SLTDA stated,

“The above achievements are not made solely by the SLTDA. It’s a joint effort made by all government agencies. The collaboration and support given by all the government agencies in making these improvements to the process are tremendous, SLTDA thanks all the Heads of those agencies and all the government officers who contributed to this effort.

“Very soon, the entire process will be automated and the facility will be available for the investor to submit the application on-line and to track the progress of approvals. This will be an integrated system where all the project approving agencies and utility agencies are connected”

SLTDA encourages all the investors to obtain the services of Investor Relations Unit (IRU) to obtain reliable information on the process, proper guidance and facilitation services to ensure successful tourism projects with proper quality standards. -(SLTDA)

 

 



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UAE Pledges Support for the Promotion of Energy, Tourism, Investment and Foreign Employment Sectors

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The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stated that the UAE will prioritize the promotion of the energy, tourism, foreign investment and foreign employment sectors while further strengthening its longstanding ties with Sri Lanka.

The Deputy Prime Minister who is currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka accompanied by a high-level UAE delegation made these remarks during a meeting with President Anura Kumara Disanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday (22).

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that this visit aims to further strengthen and expand the strong and longstanding bilateral relations between the two nations, with a focus on achieving mutual economic benefits through deepened cooperation for both countries.

Extending his best wishes on behalf of the UAE and its people to the new administration of Sri Lanka, the Deputy Prime Minister assured the UAE’s full support for the new government’s development agenda.  Furthermore, he praised President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s dedication, efforts and commitment toward rebuilding Sri Lanka, as well as his positive approach toward relations with the UAE.

In response, President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that Sri Lanka has now established an investment-friendly environment. He assured that unlike in the past, the country would not allow the re-emergence of an unstable climate that discouraged investment. The President also stressed that there are now strong legal frameworks in place to protect investments.  The President also briefed the delegation on the government’s steps toward debt restructuring and achieving economic stability. Additionally, he outlined investment opportunities available in port terminal development, port city development, the tourism industry, the energy sector and transportation sector.

President Disanayake further emphasized that the new government’s objective is to position Sri Lanka as the region’s leading investment hub and premier tourist destination.

Among those present at the meeting were Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Minister of State (UAE) Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh; UAE Ambassador to Sri Lanka. Khaled Nasser Al Ameri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs (UAE) . Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability Affairs (UAE)  Abdulla Balalaa, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the UAE, Ahmed Burhaima, Director of the Policy Planning Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UAE) Muath Alwari, Senior Media and Content Specialist at the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (UAE) Maitha Al Mansouri, Desk Officer for Asian Affairs and Pacific Department (UAE) Ms. Huda Al Abdali and several other officials.

[PMD]

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Dialog Enterprise partners with the National Chamber of Exporters to enable digital transformation of Sri Lankan exporters

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From left to right – Sameera Wijerathna, Chief Manager - Digital SME and Education, Dialog Enterprise | Viranga Seneviratne, Head of ICT and Platforms Business, Dialog Enterprise | Navin Pieris, Group Chief Officer - Dialog Enterprise | Shiham Marikar, Secretary General/ Chief Executive Officer- NCE | Dilini Gamlathge - Assistant Director– Member Services/Operations - NCE

Dialog Enterprise, the ICT corporate solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC, has partnered with the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) as the official Digital Technology Partner to empower Sri Lankan exporters with cutting-edge digital solutions and Technology expertise.

This collaboration aims to equip exporters with advanced technology-driven capabilities to enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and improve competitiveness in global markets. As Sri Lanka’s No.1 ICT solutions provider, Dialog Enterprise will support NCE and its members with tailored technology solutions, digital transformation initiatives, and expert-led training programs to help businesses embrace Digital Transformation.

“With the government focusing on increasing exports, an export earnings target of $18.2 billion has been set for 2025. The NCE, as the exclusive private sector chamber working with Sri Lankan exporters and service providers to exporters, has engaged in many market access initiatives. The government is also progressing towards a digital economy, and we believe that Sri Lankan exporters must be part of this initiative and advance in the digital arena. It is crucial to ensure that our exporters utilise effective digital platforms to enhance their business activities, including productivity, cost efficiency, and competitiveness in international markets. We believe it is timely to have a Digital Technology partner to help our exporters remain competitive in terms of technology. In today’s rapidly evolving global marketplace, Sri Lankan exporters must integrate digital solutions to stay ahead and drive sustainable growth. This partnership with Dialog Enterprise marks a significant step in ensuring our members have access to the latest technological advancements and expertise to optimise their business operations,” said Shiham Marikar, Secretary General/ Chief Executive Officer- NCE.

This strategic partnership will extend technical empowerment and digital expertise to digital entrepreneurs, manufacturers, SMEs, apparel exporters, retail businesses, agriculture and other industries that rely on digital technology to expand their reach and enhance operational efficiency. With Dialog Enterprise’s industry-leading ICT portfolio, including converged connectivity, cloud services, cybersecurity, data analytics, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, exporters will have the tools to digitally transform their businesses and unlock new opportunities.

The collaboration will also introduce training sessions and industry expert support, ensuring NCE members stay ahead of the latest technological advancements and best practices in digital business operations. Additionally, Dialog Enterprise and NCE will work together to host future industry events and initiatives, focusing on technology adoption, digital security, and automation, further strengthening Sri Lanka’s position in the global trade ecosystem.

“At Dialog Enterprise, we believe that technology should be a catalyst for business growth and global expansion. As Sri Lanka’s No.1 ICT solutions provider, we invite businesses across all industries to partner with us in driving digital transformation, unlocking new efficiencies, and creating competitive advantages,” said Navin Pieris, Group Chief Officer – Dialog Enterprise.

Through this partnership, Dialog Enterprise reaffirms its commitment to empowering Sri Lankan businesses with world-class ICT solutions, ensuring they are well-equipped to succeed in an increasingly digital-first economy.

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Team Bileeta celebrating its 15th anniversary

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Team Bileeta celebrating its 15th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in its journey of enterprise digitalization and innovation

Bileeta (Pvt) Ltd, a pioneering Sri Lankan technology company, proudly celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2025. From its inception, Bileeta has championed innovation and digital transformation—thriving enterprise digitalization in the era of AI. What began as a bold vision to create a world-class ERP platform has evolved into a globally recognized provider of next-generation enterprise solutions, empowering organizations across multiple sectors.

Established in 2010, Bileeta was built on a mission to humanize technology and empower organizations with innovative digital solutions. This mission led to the creation of Entution, Sri Lanka’s first-ever cloud-based ERP platform powered by business process architecture —developed entirely by local talent.

As part of its growth journey, Bileeta has expanded its global footprint by partnering with leading international channel partners and establishing regional offices in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. These strategic moves have strengthened Bileeta’s presence in Asia and enabled the company to serve its growing international customer base better.

In 2014, the company launched Entution ERP, a cloud-based solution designed to streamline operations, enhance accuracy, and deliver real-time business insights. In 2018, Bileeta introduced Entution Vesta, a Health Commodity and Vaccine Information Management System that transformed lifesaving medicine and vaccine distribution across national healthcare systems. Over 6,000 healthcare facilities in Nepal adopted the platform, and Gavi and The Global Fund have recognized it as the most comprehensive eLMIS (Electronic Logistics Management Information System) for low- and middle-income countries. Today, Entution eLMIS supports the medical supply chains of Nepal, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe—a milestone achievement for the Sri Lankan ICT sector and a testament to the country’s growing influence in global digital solutions.

With over 100 organizations, 16,000+ users, and more than 40 million transactions processed through the Entution platform, Bileeta has significantly impacted sectors, including healthcare, livestock, Agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and services.

CEO Sanji De Silva reflected on the company’s journey: “From the beginning, our goal was to build a product that could compete with the best ERP platforms in the world.

We started with just 18 people and a big dream—to become the ERP vendor of choice for global organizations. Today, we’re proud to see that dream realized and Sri Lankan innovation recognized worldwide. Our solutions are now adopted by organizations across various sectors, including four national Ministries of Health. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how our technology is helping organizations become more profitable, scalable, and sustainable.”

Bileeta’s evolution continues with the integration of AI-powered functionality such as demand forecasting into Entution, enabling businesses to optimize inventory, anticipate trends, and improve supply chain efficiency. These innovations reflect Bileeta’s commitment to powering the future of ERP and enabling smarter, data-driven enterprise operations through AI.

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