Business
Rainco donates hand wash stations

Representatives from Rainco Pvt Ltd and Rotary Club Colombo Midtown
to facilitate people to regularly wash and sanitise their hands
As part of their ‘Be the Change’ CSR initiative, Rainco donated hand washing stations that will be distributed by Rotary Club – Colombo Midtown to the locations in need of washing stations/units. The donation took place with the patronage from the members of Rotary Club and Ahamed Aroos, Chief Operating Officer of Rainco.
Rainco as an organization has always been conscious of their social responsibility and as such emphasizes the importance of taking precautions, the importance of well-being and the importance of taking things seriously – all values relevant to society especially during this time. Partnering with the Rotary Club of Colombo Midtown, which is also known for its contributions to social wellbeing, seemed a natural step to support the nation in facilitating healthy habits.
Rainco hopes that the distribution and location of washing stations in prime locations around Colombo might encourage people to regularly wash and sanitize their hands. It is necessary to remain vigilant and adapt to the new norms that have been thrust upon the country.
Ahamed Aroos, COO of Rainco Pvt Ltd emphasized, “Keeping with the tone of our CSR initiative to ‘Be the Change’, we felt the need to ensure that we lead by example. We hope that by creating opportunities for people to practice good hygiene, it might encourage them to actively partake in these practices.”
Business
President outlines a bold vision for Sri Lanka tourism at THASL’s 58th AGM

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.
Business
Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia prioritize economic ties in apparel and tourism sectors

The Minister of Economy and Planning for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Faisal F. Alibrahim, met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (27) at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the discussions, Minister Faisal F. Alibrahim emphasized Saudi Arabia’s keen interest in strengthening economic ties with Sri Lanka across various sectors, including apparels and tourism. He elucidated that his government was focused on expanding economic relations within the region and regarded Sri Lanka with significant importance.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe welcomed the Minister’s comments, asserting that Sri Lanka is actively promoting enhanced cooperation in Asia, including West Asia. He further highlighted that the tourism and agriculture sectors were areas open to greater investment, as the country is committed to modernizing these domains.
(PMD)
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