Business

Experts explore what sets Sri Lanka apart as a tourist destination

Published

5 years ago

2021/09/27

Conservation Tourism Webinar

The Conservation Tourism webinar series organised by Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance was held last month, to explore the topic of ‘Wildlife and Nature Conservation, as it applies to the Future Sustainability of Sri Lanka’s Tourism Industry’.

The webinar attracted a record number of virtual attendees and featured an eminent panel of speakers. The session was introduced by Co-Chair of the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance, Malik J Fernando, and moderated by Niranga Gunaratna, Director of Communications at Shangri-La Colombo & Shangri-La Hambantota.

The speakers touched on important elements such as what sets Sri Lanka apart as a tourist destination and the economic value of Sri Lanka’s nature and wildlife to the visitor economy. It was clearly established that our biodiversity was the main attraction for tourists. The webinar went on to discuss major challenges faced by Sri Lanka’s nature and wildlife and the consequences to local tourism. The speakers expounded how the tourism industry could bring about conservation outcomes, that would also be beneficial to their own bottom line.

Srilal Miththapala, Past President of The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) emphasized that wildlife is a critical component of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and that in 2018, out of the 2.2 million tourists who visited Sri Lanka, 50% had visited Sri Lanka’s wildlife parks. He also spoke of how he tried to “awaken” people to the value of Sri Lanka’s wildlife by assigning economic value to this natural resource, especially for wild elephants. Sadly, Sri Lanka whilst being one of the best countries to see them in the wild, is also the country with the worst human-elephant conflict (HEC) in the world. On average over 300 elephants are killed in Sri Lanka annually due to HEC.

Toby Sinclair, Director of &Beyond Asia has over 40 years’ experience in Sri Lanka and with his international lens on tourism, he stated how a couple of decades ago Sri Lanka was certainly the best place to see leopards and elephants in the wild but because the country has chosen “quantity over quality”, the quality of those experiences has declined over time. “Driving in Yala has become like driving down Galle Road at 5 o’clock in the evening,” he said. Mismanagement of our wildlife resources, lack of training for wildlife park guides and jeep drivers and not improving the standard of the visitor experience are keeping Sri Lanka from becoming a successful wildlife tourism destination. “The potential of Sri Lanka is enormous. I am optimistic but I am very concerned that we are going to kill the golden-goose”.

Dr Sumith Pilapitiya, Former Director General of Sri Lanka’s Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) highlighted that “Sri Lanka has the ‘potential’ to be the best wildlife tourism destination outside Africa”, however despite being blessed with every natural resource, it is unlikely that we will reach that potential, as the country lacks strategic direction. Rather we are destroying that potential by destroying our nature and wildlife. He went on to say that the private tourism sector should be doing much more, to work with the government in order to strategically develop the sector by protecting its natural resources, rather than sit complacent while they focus on reaping the benefits of Sri Lanka’s unique biodiversity today. “If Sri Lanka is to reach its potential as the best wildlife tourism destination outside of Africa, the private tourism sector has to play a significant role to make that happen”.

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Business

Sri Lanka worthy of being ranked as the world’s top holiday spot – cricketing great Wasim Akram

Published

3 hours ago

2026/06/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Cricketing great Wasim Akram being felicitated by chairman Softlogic Life Ashok Pathirage.(R)

Pakistani cricketing legend Wasim Akram said Sri Lanka is the best tourist destination and is worthy of being ranked the world’s top holiday spot. ‘The island’s natural beauty and my decades-long connection with the country, are factors that enhance Sri Lanka’s value, he explained.

Speaking at a Softlogic Life investor forum in Colombo last Tuesday Akram said Sri Lanka remained one of his favourite destinations despite having traveled extensively around the world.

Akram who captained the Pakistani national cricket team and was celebrated as Softlogic Life’s brand ambassador said filming the company’s latest television commercial gave him another opportunity to experience some of the country’s most scenic locations, including Galle and the central highlands.

Akram said Sri Lanka’s landscapes, rivers and coastline were among the most beautiful he had beheld during his travels and expressed surprise that the country was not already considered one of the world’s leading tourism destinations.

Having first visited Sri Lanka as a teenager in 1985, Akram said he had returned numerous times over the years as a player, commentator and tourist. He added that he plans to continue visiting the island regularly and hopes to explore more of the east coast in the future.

Softlogic Life had impressive growth last year and is looking forward to introducing new life insurance products to the local market considering the increasing the aging population in Sri Lanka.

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

Business

Veenath Indrajith from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura wins the 2026 Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant

Published

3 hours ago

2026/06/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Veenath Indrajith / Dr Saman Kelegama

Veenath Indrajith, a fourth-year undergraduate from the Department of Business Economics at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, has been selected as the winner of the Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant for 2026. Indrajith’s academic and professional interests lie in economics, finance, investment, and policy-oriented research. In addition to his undergraduate studies, he is currently pursuing the Chartered Accountancy qualification in Sri Lanka, demonstrating a strong commitment to analytical rigour and professional excellence. He aspires to contribute to evidence-based policymaking through applied economic research.

Indrajith’s research study, titled “Small Vehicle Businesses and Household Investors Using the Second-Hand Car Market as an Alternative Investment Method in the Colombo District of Sri Lanka,” will adopt a qualitative research approach to explore the motivations, experiences, perceived returns, and risks associated with investing in used vehicles. By analysing household-level decision-making and investment behaviour, the research aims to shed light on a relatively underexplored area of Sri Lanka’s alternative investment landscape. The findings are expected to provide valuable insights for policymakers, particularly in relation to financial literacy, household investment strategies, and the development and regulation of alternative investment markets in Sri Lanka.

The Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant, established in 2018, honours the legacy of the late Dr. Saman Kelegama, former Executive Director of the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS), whose work significantly shaped public policy discourse on socio-economic development in Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region. The grant is awarded annually to an outstanding undergraduate student from a Sri Lankan university, with the aim of encouraging innovative, policy-relevant research and nurturing the next generation of policy thinkers. As part of this grant, Indrajith will receive training and mentoring from IPS senior researchers to complete the proposed study.

Business

Delmege Consumer partners with Daraz

Published

3 hours ago

2026/06/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Signing ceremony - from Left to Right - Dushan Khadagammege, Head of Retail and Supply Chain, Daraz, with the team from the Delmege Group comprising Baratha Piyadigama Group Head of Marketing, Shanaka Rajapaksha Manager Marketing Delmege Consumer, Atheeq Kabeer Manager E- Commerce and Digital Marketing .

Delmege Consumer, the flagship FMCG cluster of the Delmege Group, has evolved into one of Sri Lanka’s most trusted household names, building lasting relationships with communities across the island through a diverse portfolio of quality products that have become an integral part of consumers’ everyday lives for generations. Renowned for enriching households with Delmege’s own brands, leading local brands, and world-renowned international brands, the company continues to strengthen its presence, reputation, and connection with consumers nationwide.

A key strength of the FMCG cluster lies in the strong and enduring partnerships it has cultivated with suppliers, enabling the company to establish a responsive, time-sensitive, and mutually beneficial distribution network that has made a significant impact across Sri Lanka. Through its extensive reach and customer-focused approach, Delmege Consumer serves retail, wholesale, HoReCa, export, and modern trade channels, supported by flexible channel management strategies and winning consumer-centric propositions that cater to evolving market needs.

Further strengthening its distribution network and expanding its digital footprint, Delmege Consumer has partnered with Daraz, Sri Lanka’s leading e-commerce platform, to offer customers a more convenient, seamless, and accessible way to purchase its extensive range of FMCG products online.

Commenting on the partnership, Anil Meegahage, CEO of Delmege Consumer, stated:

“At Delmege Consumer, we are committed to innovation, continuously strengthening our product portfolio, and enhancing customer convenience and experience. Our partnership with Daraz enables us to serve customers across the country more efficiently by providing them with an easy, secure, and reliable platform to purchase trusted Delmege FMCG products online.”

Adding further, Baratha Piyadigama, Head of Group Marketing, Delmege, said:

“This partnership with Daraz marks another important milestone in our journey to enhance brand positioning, visibility, and awareness, especially at a time when digital and online commerce continue to gain significant momentum. As one of Sri Lanka’s leading FMCG distributors, we are proud to extend our trusted portfolio of products into the digital space through Daraz, ensuring customers across the island can conveniently access their favourite products with just a few clicks.”

Delmege’s extensive FMCG portfolio includes well-known Delmege branded products such as Canned Fish, Hiru Kahata Tea, Delmege Soya, Flavours and Colours, Delmege Pasta,

Delmege Noodles, and Salt, together with the much-loved Motha range of dessert ingredients, beverages, and mixes. The company also represents globally renowned international brands including Kellogg’s cereals such as Corn Flakes, Muesli, and Oats; Pringles; and the Ferrero portfolio featuring Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, Kinder Joy, and Tic Tac. Through its diverse and trusted brand portfolio, Delmege Consumer continues to reinforce its position as one of Sri Lanka’s leading FMCG companies.