Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Türkiye Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake met with the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye Mehmet Nuri Ersoy on 19 September 2023 at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Ankara.

The ambassador congratulated the minister for his appointment as the Minister of Culture and Tourism and also extended her congratulations for the inscription of Gordion, an ancient archaeological site in Polatli as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 18 September 2023.

The ambassador highlighted the longstanding relationship between Türkiye and Sri Lanka, evidenced by the silk route of the sea, with cultural influences spreading with trading communities, noting that some Sri Lankan Muslims still wear the Fez Cap, which is also called “Turki Toppi” in Tamil, during marriage ceremonies in Sri Lanka. She underscored the significance of both countries in terms of trading hubs, not only during ancient times, but also in the modern times.

The ambassador emphasized the significance of the year 2023 for both countries with Sri Lanka commemorating its 75^th anniversary of independence, Türkiye celebrating the 100^th anniversary of establishment of the Republic and the two countries celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations. Among the key activities to celebrate in 2023, the Embassy of Sri Lanka is collaborating with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries and the Turkish Embassy in Colombo to issue postal stamps simultaneously on 29 October 2023, to mark the anniversaries. She also indicated that renowned Sri Lankan artist Vasantha Perera has agreed to design the stamps and he would be visiting Türkiye later this year for an exhibition and to start a painting series on Türkiye.

The minister was appreciative that the ambassador has already visited over 25 ancient archaeological sites in Türkiye within a short period of time. The ambassador and the minister exchanged views on how to increase bilateral tourism promotion noting that the direct flight between Istanbul and Colombo has brought the air fare down, which would positively promote tourism between the countries.

The ambassador highlighted the famous Turkish Tele dramas such as “Kadin” (women), which is dubbed in Sinhala which was very popular in Sri Lanka and emphasized how such TV series could increase understanding among people, as  part of cultural diplomacy that contributes to tourism, and to economic and political diplomacy between the two countries in the long term.

The ambassador noted that a Sri Lanka Film festival in Türkiye would be organized in 2024 with the contribution of cinematographer Anomaa Rajakaruna, renowned Sri Lankan writer and poet Sunetra Rajakarunanayake and independent filmmaker and writer Eranda Mahagamage  who is currently pursuing his PhD studies at Istanbul Medeniyet University in Türkiye. She also noted that Sri Lanka Foreign Service Officer Niluka Kadurugamuwa, who is currently the Deputy High Commissioner at the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi has translated two novels of the Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk – “Red Haired Woman” and “My name is Red”.

The ambassador also briefed the minister on the upcoming Sri Lanka Day events to be held in Adana, Antalya, Bursa and Izmir which would be trade and cultural promotion for Sri Lanka. The minister expressed interest in the activities planned by the embassy and requested to consider combining these with international events organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for broader visibility. The minister assured their fullest support in enhancing bilateral cooperation in culture and tourism.

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Belgium Grace Asirwatham further boosted relations between the Embassy and the Walloon capital of Namur during her participation in the annual International Day event held on 16 September 2023. This annual high-profile event, jointly hosted by the Governor of the Province of Namur Denis Mathen, and Mayor of Namur Maxime Prévot served as a platform for fostering international relations.

The event’s commemorative souvenir highlighted Governor Denis Mathen’s active involvement with the diplomatic community, which also showcased Ambassador Asirwatham’s meeting with the Governor.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka has been actively fostering close relations with Namur, having previously hosted a successful tourism promotion event last year with the valuable support of the Governor’s office. This collaboration, coupled with the Governor’s participation in the tourism promotion workshop, resulted in significant media coverage, increasing the visibility of Sri Lanka as a preferred holiday destination among the people of Namur.

In August 2023, the Sri Lankan Embassy took another step to sustain this momentum by publishing a tourism promotion advertisement in a local magazine in Namur. This initiative aimed to keep Sri Lanka fresh in the minds of Namur’s residents as an attractive travel option.

During their brief conversation at the International Day event, Governor Denis Mathen encouraged Ambassador Asirwatham to organize regular trade and tourism events in Namur. He emphasized that such initiatives would yield positive and constructive outcomes in the long run, strengthening the bonds between the people of Namur and Sri Lanka.

Ambassador Grace Asirwatham expressed her gratitude for the warm hospitality and support from the Province of Namur and reiterated her commitment to further enhancing bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Namur.

The Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Antwerp Monique De Decker also attended the International Day in Namur in her capacity as the President of the Consular Union in Belgium, further strengthening the bonds between Sri Lanka and Wallonia.

Belgium is renowned for its linguistic and regional diversity, with Wallonia standing as one of its three main regions, predominantly French-speaking. The other two geographical regions include the Flemish Region (Flanders), a primarily Dutch-speaking region in the north and west, and the Brussels-Capital, where bilingual French-Dutch languages are administered. Namur, the capital of Wallonia, is not only a historic city but also an important commercial and industrial hub within the region.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Viet Nam, known as State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV), Nguyen Thi Hong, expressed optimism and encouraging sentiments about the improvement of the economy of Sri Lanka during the last 12 months, when the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Viet Nam Prof. A. Saj U. Mendis met her at the Head Office of the SBV. Both the governor and envoy discussed in detail micro and macro-economic issues and policies as well as monetary and fiscal policies implemented and executed by Viet Nam, and thus, Viet Nam attaining unprecedented economic growth during the last couple of decades.

Governor Hong, was one of the three Governors of Central Banks who were chosen by the prestigious “Global Financial Magazine” as the most effectual and competent central bankers in the world. Ambassador Mendis complimented, both during the meeting as well as in writing, this achievement, which reflected and manifested the efficacious and result-oriented policies executed by the SBV. On the same note, Governor Hong conveyed the best wishes to the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, who was also being selected by Global Financial Magazine as one of the best and competent central bankers in the world. Governor Hong noted that Sri Lanka succeeded in reducing the inflation from 65% to 5% within a space of 12 months as well as marked reduction of interest rates, increase of official foreign reserves and stabilizing of national currency of Sri Lanka. The ambassador stated that Viet Nam, today, has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, thus being noted by major advanced economies and large multinational corporates world over. He added that a central bank of any nation, be it developed or developing, plays an influential and seminal role in navigating and steering the economy. That said, Viet Nam which had a GDP per capita of only USD 90 in 1990s, today has risen to USD 4,450 as well as bilateral trade exceeding USD 730 billion including exports of over USD 370 billion in 2022. Viet Nam maintains economic and political stability with highly impressive economic indicators such as inflation, interest rates, and unemployment, among others.

Ambassador Mendis also stated that the SBV was pivotal and decisive in creating a milieu for foreign investors, corporates and FDI to flow in to the country since Viet Nam received FDI in excess of USD 20 billion in 2022 and envisaging FDI of around USD 30 billion in 2023. Some of the largest corporates, which are household names, have committed significant investments and FDIs in Viet Nam amounting to a total FDI stock of USD 450 billion.

Both the governor and envoy agreed that one of the determining and deciding factors of this iconic feat of the economic augmentation of Viet Nam was the FTAs and partnership agreements it has with a number of key and select countries, numbering 17. Ambassador Mendis also stated that Sri Lanka too has FTAs with major countries in South Asia as well as in the process of concluding a number of FTAs with select countries in order to increase the exports and to woo FDIs and foreign institutional investments. Both the governor and envoy discussed policies and measures which have led to economic advancement and augmentation of countries including Viet Nam.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Iran, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tea Board, successfully organized a Ceylon Tea promotional program at the 10^th International Exhibition of Drinks, Tea, Coffee and Related Industries (DRINKTECH-2023) held at the Tehran International Fairground from 07 to 10 September 2023. The key features of the DRINKTECH-2023 included a tea-tasting session, one-to-one meetings with a number of prominent tea importers and buyers, discussions with key representatives of the Iran Tea Association and media briefing session. The exhibition is the biggest event in production, supply and services related to hot and cold beverages in Iran.

During the four-day event, the Embassy of Sri Lanka displayed Ceylon tea export products together with information on varieties and quality of Ceylon tea at the Ceylon tea pavilion, which attracted a large number of visitors. The trade section of the Sri Lanka Embassy also held a significant number of productive business-to-business information-sharing meetings with potential importers and trade-related service companies and awareness campaign at the Exhibition. A short film on “Ceylon tea industry”, prepared by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, was also screened. More than 250 exhibitors, around 15,000 trade representatives and over 1, 00,000 visitors attended the event.

During the business discussion on “Ceylon Tea Industry & Market Opportunities”, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Iran, G.M.V. Wishwanath Aponsu, expressed that Ceylon Tea is unique in taste, aroma, purity, depth and has health benefits. He encouraged the importers and buyers to purchase Ceylon tea and support Sri Lanka’s economy and strengthen its tea market in Iran and West Asia. More than 35 represented companies conveyed their interest in doing business with Sri Lanka.

At the meeting, Deputy Chairman of the Iran Tea Association Roshanak Ramezaninejad appreciated the active participation of Ambassador and his Embassy staff at the DRINKTECH-2023 Exhibition. She further stated the interest of her Association to work together with the Tea Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka and other relevant stakeholders to expand business co-operation and increase Ceylon tea import volume. Briefing the progress of implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)-tea for oil between Sri Lanka and Iran, Ambassador Aponsu underscored that a joint venture in the humanitarian trade will bolster ties between the two countries and will help to expand bilateral relations.

All the visitors of the Sri Lanka Pavilion and the participants of the business discussion were served Ceylon tea, Sri Lankan cuisine and were presented samples of  the seven regional teas of Sri Lanka.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry participated in the 18^th Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) yesterday (20/9) on the sidelines of the 78^th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, at the invitation of Dr. Abdullatif Bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the current Chair of the ACD.

The meeting convened under the theme ‘Post-Pandemic Sustainable Recovery’ was an opportunity for foreign ministers to review progress made over the past year in deepening intra-Asian cooperation through the ACD.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Sabry stated that the ACD is an important mechanism for restoring the cooperation that once existed among the nations of Asia, and its roles and principles as a pan-Asian platform can contribute to regional development and future of an Asian community. The foreign minister expressed Sri Lanka’s gratitude to Bahrain for its leadership of ACD over the past two years and extended the fullest support to Iran, as the incoming Chair, in promoting the objectives of the ACD.

The foreign ministers adopted the Bahrain Declaration that focused on recovery efforts of the ACD as a regional organization following the COVID-19 pandemic, through collaboration.

The Dialogue was inaugurated in 2002 and aims to consolidate Asian strengths and fortify Asia’s competitiveness by maximizing the diversity and rich resources in Asia.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York participated in the meeting.

Colombo (LNW): The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) announced a 12-hour water cuts in several parts of Colombo due this weekend.

Accordingly, the water supply will be interrupted from 6 pm on Saturday (23) to 6 am on Sunday (24), and this will affect Colombo 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 areas.

The water supply disruption will be imposed due to essential maintenance work, according to the NWSDB.

The Contract for Design, Installation, Testing & Commissioning of Signalling system for Sri Lanka Railways from Maho to Anuradhapura (66 km) was signed between the Ministry of Transport and Highways of Sri Lanka and IRCON Ltd today (September 21, 2023) in the presence of the Minister of Transport and Highways of Sri Lanka, Hon. Dr. Bandula Gunawardane and the High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka, H.E. Gopal Baglay. Governor of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, Hon. Senthil Thondaman; State Minister of Highways of Sri Lanka, Hon. Siripala Gamalath; senior officials from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Transport and Highways, Sri Lankan Railways and IRCON Ltd were also present during the signing event. The mentioned project is being executed under an Indian Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 318 million at a cost of USD 14.90 million.

2.    In his remarks at the event, High Commissioner stressed the significance of the Signalling project for easing movement of the people of Sri Lanka, accelerating economic recovery of the country and strengthening the cooperation between the two countries. He highlighted that LOC for this project in the current situation, symbolises the continued desire of the Government and the people of India to stand with the people of Sri Lanka. The Minister of Transport and Highways, Hon. Dr. Bandula Gunawardane thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Government of India for supporting Sri Lanka in multiple ways, especially during the economic crisis last year. It was also pointed out that Sri Lankan railway projects have received support in the form of LOCs in recent times only from India.

3.    Projects of over USD 1 billion in the Railway sector have been completed under 5 Indian LOCs till date. IRCON Ltd, which started its operations in Sri Lanka in March 2009, has completed several projects in Sri Lanka with Indian assistance and has contributed significantly towards rehabilitation and modernization of Sri Lanka Railways, capacity building and employment generation.

4.    At present, IRCON Ltd is undertaking a project for upgradation of the Railway Line including track Rehabilitation and ancillary works from Maho to Omanthai (128 km) at a cost of USD 91.27 million. Under this project, while track rehabilitation work from Anuradhapura to Omanthai has already been completed, work on the section from Anuradhapura to Maho will commence from January 2024.   

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Colombo

21 September 2023

Colombo (LNW): The minimum rates that can be charged by tourist hotels located within the Colombo Municipal Council limits, featuring separate charges for the provision of a room and meals, have been gazetted.

The Gazette dated September 11, 2023, has been issued by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), and will be effective from October 01, 2023.

The rates for rooms:

5-star tourist hotels – US $100
4-star tourist hotels – US $75
3-star tourist hotels – US $50
2-star tourist hotels – US $35
1-star tourist hotels – US $20

The gazette declares that these rates are payable for a period of 24 hours and excludes service charges and other applicable taxes, fees, or charges levied for any other services provided.

Meanwhile, for hotels that fall under the category of ‘residence’ or ‘apartments’ for short-term business (less than one month), an additional amount of US $15 or its equivalent in LKR per extra guest over double occupancy will be charged, the gazette adds.

The rates for meals:

5-star tourist hotels – US $10 (breakfast) / US $15 (lunch) / US $17 (dinner)
4-star tourist hotels – US $9 (breakfast) / US $14 (lunch) / US $16 (dinner)
3-star tourist hotels – US $8 (breakfast) / US $10 (lunch) / US $14 (dinner)
2-star tourist hotels – US $6 (breakfast) / US $8 (lunch) / US $10 (dinner)
1-star tourist hotels – US $5 (breakfast) / US $7 (lunch) / US $9 (dinner)

Read Gazette: http://documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2023/9/2349-02_E.pdf