News
ADB: Southern Expressway best in South Asia
Asian Development Bank Country Director Dr Chen Chen has stated that the Southern Expressway is the best expressway in the South Asian region.
He said so during last week’s meeting between ADB Director General for South Asia Department, Kenichi Yokoyama and Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando at the Ministry of Highways, the Ministry said.
During the meeting Minister Fernando told the ADB top officials that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has a plan to build an interconnected network of expressways ensuring the road connectivity linking the north, east, south and western regions of the country. The President’s plan is to create a network of expressways enabling any person to travel to any distant place in a couple of hours. The Minister also explained the progress that has been achieved by his Ministry under the incumbent government to the ADB Director General. They discussed the progress of rural road development projects, road safety, managing traffic congestions and the highway development projects to be started in the near future.
Dr Chen Chen said that Sri Lanka’s
Southern Expressway was the best expressway in the entire South Asian region. He said that the I-Road project (Integrated Road Investment Programme) to improve the connectivity between rural communities and socioeconomic centres by improving the transport efficiency on selected national, provincial and local roads commenced when Mahinda Rajapaksa was the President on a request by incumbent Secretary to the President Dr PB Jayasundara has become a model road development project for many other developing nations. India and Bangladesh too have emulated the I-Road project to develop infrastructure and roads in their countries.
Ministry sources said that the ADB officials have applauded the progress of the 100,000 km road development project of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour Programme and planting one million saplings along the roads. The ADB officials further discussed with the minister the progress of the Port Entrance Road being constructed under the ADB assistance.
ADB Director General for South Asia Kenichi Yokoyama was pleased with the progress of road development projects and assured further assistance from the ADB to Sri Lanka, the Ministry said in a release. Also associated with Minister Fernando was Secretary to the Ministry, RWR Pemasiri.
Addressing the 58th Annual General Meeting of The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) held on Monday (27) at Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, President Ranil Wickremesinghe outlined a comprehensive strategy to propel the country’s tourism sector to new heights. Focused on surpassing the target of 5 million tourists and redefining traditional approaches, the President’s vision extends to achieving 7.5 million visitors in the coming years. The President emphasized the need for innovative thinking and collaboration within the industry to ensure sustainable growth.
“When I took over the government, I realized that sustainability alone is not sufficient. How are we going to earn foreign exchange? How are we going to have a positive balance of trade? In that, there were many suggestions. But what is the low-hanging fruit? And one of the low-hanging fruits was tourism. Let’s promote tourism fully,” President Wickremesinghe declared.
The President acknowledged the need to move beyond the existing framework and embrace competition to elevate Sri Lanka’s standing in the global tourism market. Drawing parallels with countries like Vietnam, he questioned why they had more tourists despite being in the industry for a shorter period. President Wickremesinghe stressed the importance of increasing the number of tourists to 2.5 million in the upcoming year and subsequently expanding on this figure.
(PMD)
Business
Free visas for nationals of China, India, Indonesia, Russsia, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan from Monday (27)
The Controller General of Immigration and Emigration has stated that nationals of China, India, Indonesia, Russsia, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan will be granted free visas from Monday 27-11-2023 to 31-03-2024 as a pilot program to rebuild the tourism industry.
Nationals of the above nominated countries possessing, Diplomatic, Official, Public Affairs, Services and Ordinary Passports are eligible to enjoy a visa free regime under this scheme.
The above mentioned nationals should apply for Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arriving in Sri Lanka subject to granting / issuing free of charge up to 31-03-2024.
Under this scheme tourists can enjoy a 30 days free visa period and a double entry facility is permitted within 30 days from the date of first arrival in Sri Lanka.
Free ETA under this scheme can be applied up to 31-03-2024.
The free ETA cannot be extended further and is limited only to thirty (30) days. In case the free ETA period of 30 days expires after 31-03-2024, an extension of visa could be applied subject to paying the appropriate fee.
Latest News
Cabinet gives green light for Colombo Port City Order No. 3 of 2023 to be presented in Parliament
The President in his capacity as the Minister of Investment Promotion has published the Colombo Port City Orders No. 3 of 2023 (Enterprises with Strategic Value – Guidelines for releasing or encouraging to award for customs – free enterprises) under the provisions of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act No. 11 of 2021 by the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2355/30 dated 25.10.2023.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Hon. President in his capacity as the Minister of Investment Promotions to submit the said orders to the Parliament for its concurrence.
(PMD)
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