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Earn a Mile-A-Minute in Dubai with Emirates Skywards

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Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, has announced a special “Mile-A-Minute” offer in which members can register to earn up to 5,000 Miles during a stopover or holiday stay in Dubai. The offer comes as Emirates’ home and hub, Dubai, gears up to host Expo 2020 and as the UAE celebrates its Golden Jubilee. The offer is applicable on all Emirates flight tickets purchased between 1 August 2021 and 31 March 2022, for travel between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2022.*

Earn 1 Skywards Mile for every 1 minute spent in Dubai

Earn 1 Skywards Mile for every 1 minute spent in Dubai between October 2021 and March 2022. Existing and new Emirates Skywards members who sign up for the programme before 31 March 2022, can avail the offer on emirates.com. Book a ticket now, experience the best Dubai has to offer, and enjoy earning up to 5,000 Skywards Miles during your stay.*

Register and book now on emirates.com.

Visit Dubai

Since it safely reopened to international tourists last year, Dubai remains one of the most popular stopover and holiday destinations. The city is famed for its iconic landmarks, world-class hotels, and pristine beaches. It was one of the world’s first cities to obtain a Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) – which endorses Dubai’s comprehensive and effective measures to ensure guest health and safety.

Expo 2020 is set to take place from 1 October 2021 until 31 March 2022. Travellers can expect a safe and unforgettable visit with live entertainment shows, cultural festivals, culinary experiences and inspiring workshops. The global event will welcome more than 25 million visitors from more than 190 countries worldwide.

Join nation-wide festivities until 31 March, 2022 as the UAE rings in its Golden Jubilee, “Year of the 50th”. Visitors can expect grand celebrations and exciting activities across the country as residents and visitors celebrate 50 years of the UAE’s historic achievements.

Fly safer and better on Emirates

Customers can enjoy seamless connectivity to the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Asia Pacific via Dubai as Emirates continues to expand its network safely and sustainably. The airline currently serves over 120 destinations across its extensive network. Emirates introduced a comprehensive set of safety measures in the air and on-ground to provide its passengers with the highest safety and hygiene standards at every step of the journey. The airline has also recently introduced contactless technology to ease the customer journey through Dubai airport.

Customers can travel with a peace of mind as the airline has extended its multi-risk travel insurance cover. Emirates Skywards was also one of the first loyalty programmes in the world to offer its members an extension on tier status until 2022. The validity of any Skywards Miles due to expire since April 2020 has also been further extended until 31 December 2021, providing Emirates Skywards members with more opportunities to spend Miles on an extensive range of benefits and privileges.

Emirates Skywards members can earn Miles with partners ranging from airlines, hotels and car rentals to financial brands. Members can earn even more Miles when shopping at over 1,300 brands at the world’s largest shopping destination, The Dubai Mall and with Skywards Everyday partners across leisure, entertainment, dining outlets and more. Skywards Miles can be spent on flight tickets on partner airlines, hotel stays, hospitality at sporting and cultural events, and money-can’t-buy experiences. For more information, visit emirates.com/skywards.



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Exporters warn against ‘backdoor charges’, urge government to uphold transparent trade practices

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Sean Van Dort, Chairman

The Joint Chambers of Commerce urged the Government of Sri Lanka to engage in meaningful consultation with all recognized industry chambers before making decisions that directly impact trade, exports, and the wider economy. The call comes in response to renewed lobbying efforts by certain shipping agents and intermediaries seeking to reintroduce anti-competitive terminal handling charges (THC) through misleading claims to policymakers.

Calls were made to reinstate THC, citing alleged adverse impacts on the Port of Colombo. However, the Joint Chambers strongly reject this assertion, clarifying that there is no legal or operational void to “reinstate.” Port terminal handling charges are already paid by shipping lines under existing market contracts, and any further charges imposed on exporters or importers would constitute a reversion to pre-2014 cartel-like practices that hurt competitiveness and transparency.

Sean Van Dort, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council, condemned the move, stating:

“This is yet another attempt by powerful intermediaries in the shipping and logistics sector to reintroduce anti-competitive fees through the backdoor. Exporters and importers already pay all-inclusive freight based on market terms. There is no free service being provided. What we are seeing is a push to extract surcharges from non-contracting parties, which is against global trade norms and local regulation.”

He added that since the 2014 regulation, introduced with support from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and based on INCOTERMS best practices, the Port of Colombo has seen volume growth and an increase in licensed agents—contrary to claims that the regulations have harmed the sector.

Yohan Lawrence, Secretary General of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), also expressed concern:

“The apparel industry cannot afford renewed cost pressures or uncertainty due to policy shifts driven by narrow interests. Sri Lanka’s export sector is already under strain, and the Government must ensure that any regulatory changes are made with full industry consultation. Fragmented lobbying only undermines our national competitiveness.”

The Joint Chambers warned that unbundling freight charges to reintroduce THC would raise costs for manufacturers, disrupt supply chains, and ultimately burden consumers through hidden costs. They reiterated that Sri Lanka’s competitiveness hinges on transparent and predictable trade policy.

The Chambers further cautioned that such attempts, often timed around transitions in political leadership or changes in ministerial portfolios, aim to exploit gaps in regulatory oversight. They urged the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, and the Merchant Shipping Secretariat, to act with integrity and consult all stakeholders—not just intermediaries with vested interests.

As the country focuses on rebuilding exports and attracting investment, the Joint Chambers reaffirm their commitment to protecting the interests of Sri Lankan businesses, exporters, and consumers alike, and called on the Government to uphold regulatory clarity and market fairness.

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LOLC Life Assurance signs strategic MoU with SMIB to strengthen Bancassurance services

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Jayantha Kalinga COO (L) / Thushara Asuramanna, CEO (R)

LOLC Life Assurance, a fully owned subsidiary of LOLC Holdings, has entered into a strategic partnership with the State Mortgage and Investment Bank (SMIB), one of the longest standing banks in Sri Lanka, to offer life endowment insurance solutions through its bancassurance channel.

With ownership of the most extensive bancassurance channel in Sri Lanka’s insurance industry, LOLC Life Assurance aims to provide SMIB customers across Colombo and its suburbs with innovative life endowment insurance solutions that seamlessly integrate with comprehensive protection, ensuring that SMIB customers have seamless access to high-quality life insurance solutions.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in the presence of senior leadership teams from both organizations, marking a significant milestone in the development of LOLC Life Assurance’s Bancassurance channel. This collaboration aligns with LOLC Life Assurance’s commitment to providing tailored life assurance solutions that meet the evolving needs of SMIB’s customers.

Sharing his views on this landmark partnership, Jayantha Kalinga, COO of LOLC Life Assurance, stated, “This partnership with SMIB signifies our ongoing commitment to expanding accessibility to comprehensive life insurance solutions through strategic banking collaborations. We are excited to work closely with SMIB to offer tailored protection plans that enrich the lives of their customers with security and financial peace of mind.”

Thushara Asuramanna, CEO/General Manager of SMIB, also shared his thoughts, saying, “At SMIB, our goal is to enhance the value we provide to our customers through integrated financial solutions. Partnering with LOLC Life Assurance enables us to expand our offerings and provide customers with convenient access to trusted life insurance solutions that ensure their long-term financial security.”

Through this collaboration, both institutions aim to make a lasting positive impact on their customers’ financial well-being and life protection. By offering reliable, accessible, and trusted life insurance protection, we are committed to meeting the evolving needs of SMIB’s customers in today’s dynamic financial landscape, reinforcing our shared vision for a secure and prosperous future.

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SLIIT launches new BA (Hons) in English Studies enabling students to master linguistic and communicative skills

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Setting a new benchmark for English language education in Sri Lanka, SLIIT’s Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, has launched a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Studies degree programme.

This comprehensive four-year programme offers students unparalleled opportunities to master linguistic and communicative skills while accessing guaranteed career pathways in high-demand sectors. Unlike traditional English programmes, SLIIT’s degree uniquely combines theoretical excellence with practical industry applications, ensuring graduates are job-ready from day one. The programme’s distinctive tri-fold approach consisting of Language, Literature, and Communication, incorporated with 120 UGC-approved credits, positions students ahead of competitors in today’s challenging employment market. The programme’s key differentiators include an industry-integrated curriculum that connects academic learning with practical experience along with a research component as well. Students benefit from technology-enhanced learning environments that incorporate cutting-edge media technology integration, developing essential 21st-century communication skills.

The course also provides a captivating journey through diverse literary genres, periods, movements, and communities, featuring British, American, Commonwealth, European, and Sri Lankan contributions. From medieval classics to postmodern innovations, students develop a refined literary perspective. Additionally, the degree maintains a strong professional skills focus through specialized training in journalism, digital media, corporate communication, and strategic marketing, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for diverse career opportunities in the modern communications environment. Programme highlights include an in-depth exploration of English grammar, academic writing, historical development, and diverse linguistic theories such as sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and discourse stylistics. Students acquire expertise in the use of media technology in language communication.

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