Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Priantha Fernando on Friday formally notified the General Managers of Colombo City hotels about the introduction of Minimum Room Rates (MRR) from 1 October 2023 ending speculation about a possible deferment due to protest by tour operators.
The new directive brings forth a series of guidelines aimed at standardising room pricing across distribution channels.
The move comes following the Government issuing an Extraordinary Gazette on 11 September declaring the MRR effective from 1 October.
This mandate necessitates Colombo City Hotels to strictly adhere to the Gazette notification, thereby ensuring uniformity in room rates.
The directive also contains provisions for the continuation of previously confirmed bookings made prior to 1 October 2023, encompassing group reservations, series groups, and contracts with foreign direct tour operators.
These will be honoured at the rates agreed upon before the implementation of the new regulations.
As per the Gazette notification, the prices for corporate and free independent tourists (FIT), the MRR structure has been defined to accommodate different hotel categories: $ 100 for 5-star hotels, $ 75 for 4-star establishments, $ 50 for 3-star accommodations, $35 for 2-star hotels and $ 20 for one-star tourist hotels.
Any existing agreements that fall below the stipulated MRR will be rendered null and void starting 1 October 2023. Contracts for crew stays that were executed before this date will be honoured for the duration of their current validity period.
According to the Gazette, the prices for airline crew rooms are; $ 75 for 5-star hotels, $ 55 for 4-star establishments, $ 40 for 3-star accommodations, 30 for 2-star hotels and $ 20 for one-star tourist hotels.
However, renewals and new contracts must strictly adhere to the rates set out in the Gazette notification.
Hotels are prohibited from offering supplementary incentives to ensure compliance, aiming to maintain a level playing field for all establishments. Additionally, hotels must accurately present their star classification on public platforms, aligning pricing accordingly.
For group bookings, regardless of the number of paying rooms a complimentary 11th room will be extended, subject to a maximum limit of 10 complimentary rooms.
The Chairman also pointed out that three reputable audit companies will be appointed to oversee adherence to the Gazette notification.
They will be responsible for conducting both general and spot audits. The Gazette also delineates penalties for non-compliance. “In the event of a violation, the guilty party is required to remit the penalty fee to SLTDA within two weeks of receiving the violation report,” the letter reads.
The fees payable for re-registration and licensing of 5-star tourist hotels is Rs 3 million and Rs. 2 million, 4-star tourist hotels Rs. 1.5 million and Rs. 2.3 million, 3-star tourist hotels Rs. 1.85 million and Rs. 1.2 million, 2-star tourist hotels Rs. 1.5 million and Rs. 1 million and 1-star tourist hotels Rs. 1 million and Rs. 750,000 respectively.
Colombo (LNW): Several Indian companies have planned investments in Sri Lanka in the coming years. According to Indian CEOs some big Indian companies operating in the Sri Lankan market include CEAT, Gujarat Glass, Indian Oil Corporation, Neelkamal Plastics, Gujarat Ambuja amob them .
Members of the Sri Lanka India Society comprising Indian CEOs assured Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to promote further Indian investments as the time is ripe for expanding collaboration in several sectors.
This was conveyed when a delegation from the Sri Lanka India Society paid a courtesy call on the Premier to discuss ways and means of expanding bilateral economic ties including trade and investment.
The Prime Minister, pointing out the growth in Government-to-Government development cooperation, thanked the Indian CEOS for their efforts to promote private sector Indian investments.
The business heads underscore the need for some structural changes in Sri Lanka to augment foreign investments, especially when the challenge of costs is so stark, following the drastic depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee.
The ease of doing business must improve, they underscore, suggesting that a single window regulatory process be put in place to help save costs and time, and give incentive for new investors to come in
Sri Lanka India Society President and Platinum Realty Investments Managing Director Kishore Reddy said there is enormous potential for investments in the agriculture, tourism, information technology, renewable energy, and education sectors.
As Sri Lanka has emerged out of the recent economic crisis and restored stability, it is still a good time to invest as there is an enormous scope for foreign direct investment in a host of sectors.
These Sectors are manufacture of automobile accessories, value addition to mineral sands, agriculture products such as manufacture of tomato puree, dairy industry through expansion of farmer cooperatives in addition to information technology, tourism, and renewable energy.
Past President T.S. Prakash said Sri Lanka could expand the dairy sector taking lessons from the success story of Amul in India by using farmer cooperatives for production and collection of milk.
The Indian CEOs, referring to their experience of doing business in Sri Lanka for decades, said that entrepreneurs in Indian states are willing to invest in Sri Lanka to manufacture products for the huge Indian market.
Reddy thanked the Prime Minister for the continuous support extended to the India Sri Lanka Society for its activities to promote cooperation between the two countries.
The Sri Lanka India Society, established in 1949 is one of the oldest and largest friendship societies in Sri Lanka dedicated to strengthening economic cooperation
Former CB Deputy Governor W A Wijewardene says the MB has tried to establish a lie that the 14% tax rate applied on the EPF is a “concessionary rate”: also says the previous MB statements had compared the EPF tax rate of 14% on its Gross Interest Income with the 30% tax rate on financial institutions on their Net Interest Income: asserts the EPF has paid a tax of Rs.49bn in 2022 on its gross income of Rs.370bn, when a financial institution earning a similar gross income would have paid only about Rs.2bn as taxes.
National Trade Union Centre denounces the EPF’s recent decision to submit an offer to exchange the portfolio of their Treasury Bonds under the Domestic Debt Optimisation programme.
The Indian Central Govt informs the Madras High Court that it has taken steps to deport the 4 Sri Lankans convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, to Sri Lanka.
Dept of Motor Traffic initiates an investigation against officials who are allegedly connected to a racket of registration of luxury vehicles under registration numbers of diplomatic vehicles which are no longer in use: a recent audit report issued by the National Audit Office had revealed that, as a result, the Govt has lost millions of Rupees.
Police say a 6-year old girl was killed when unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire at a 3-wheeler near the Maligakanda Courts in Maradana: her father also in a critical condition.
Police say unidentified persons in a vehicle had opened fire at SLPP MP Uddika Premaratne’s vehicle soon after he returned to his residence in Anuradhapura: MP escaped unhurt.
Govt asks the Depts of Inland Revenue, Excise & Customs to immediately raise between Rs.400bn and Rs.450bn in revenue to overcome the expected cash flow shortfall due to the strict restrictions on “money printing” now in place owing to the new CBSL Act: under the new Act, the CB’s ability to “print money” will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances such as a global health emergency: analysts expect the interest rates to rise sharply and the recent “hot money” inflows to reverse, as a result.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Priyanga Wickramasinghe says the Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6 has commenced its 80-day expedition into the Indian Ocean, despite Colombo not yet granting permission for the vessel to call port or carry out a planned joint survey in the SL waters: previously, the Ministry of Defence had said permission for the Shi Yan 6 to call port in Colombo had been granted.
UK and France join the United States to intervene in a New York Court case filed by the Hamilton Reserve Bank against Sri Lanka over SL’s ISB default, by filing a joint ‘amicus curiae’ petition supporting SL’s request for a 6-month freeze on the litigation pertaining to the matter.
India record a huge win against SL in the Asia Cricket Cup 2023 Final played in Colombo: SL 50 all out (15.2 overs): IND 51/0 (6.1 overs): India’s Mohammed Siraj produced a devastating spell of swing bowling returning figures of 6 for 21 in 7 overs: SL’s total is the lowest by any team against India in Men’s ODIs.
August xx, 2023: ikman, the country’s pioneering online marketplace, is bringing better value to members through its innovative concept of ikman Memberships and the newly introduced Online Membership Platform (OMP) Designed to empower businesses and sellers, these memberships come with an array of features and benefits, ensuring a more prominent presence in the online marketplace while driving business growth.
ikman is the local online marketplace with the widest reach, boasting nearly four million unique visitors every month. Established as a household name and recognized as the number-one platform in the country for buying and selling, ikman provides businesses and individuals with the ultimate platform to showcase and promote their products and services.
With a strong network of over 2,500 members, ikman offers sellers the flexibility to choose the right type of membership, tailored to the needs of their product portfolio. Sellers can effortlessly manage their online shops from anywhere, streamlining the selling process.
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For even more convenience, ikman offers the Online Membership Platform (OMP), simplifying the process of purchasing and managing memberships online. The OMP provides almost all the benefits of a standard membership, along with added features for seamless online management. Key benefits offered by the OMP include:
Lowest Per Ad Cost: The OMP offers a discounted version of the standard membership, further reducing the cost per ad. Faster and Convenient Enrolment: The OMP streamlines the purchasing and enrolment process, saving valuable time for sellers. Ideal for Heavy Sellers: The OMP is perfect for private sellers who have exceeded their monthly account limits for free ads in specific categories. Your Own Virtual Shop: OMP members get their own virtual shop on ikman, enhancing their online presence. Access to Ad Analytics: Members can access valuable ad analytics to track and optimise their ad performance. Automatic Ad Reposting: The OMP ensures that ads are automatically reposted for consistent visibility. Dedicated Customer Support: OMP members enjoy dedicated customer support to address any queries or concerns promptly. Easy Online Management: The OMP can be conveniently purchased and managed through web and app platforms (Google Play and App Store), offering maximum ease of use.
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In a significant development, a special gazette notification has been issued, reaffirming the status of electricity supply and related services, the supply and distribution of petroleum products and fuel, as well as health services as essential services in Sri Lanka.
The announcement was made by Acting Presidential Secretary Chandanie Wijayawardhana on September 17, 2023, in compliance with the directives of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This decision was enacted under the authority granted to the President by Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act No. 61 of 1979.
This recent notification follows a prior declaration of these services as essential in a Gazette Extraordinary published on May 17, 2023. President Wickremesinghe had previously issued multiple announcements to this effect, dated August 3, 2022, September 3, 2022, October 4, 2022, January 3, 2023, and February 17, 2023, underscoring the critical nature of these services to the nation.
In a recent revelation, Sri Lanka’s overall risk concerning money laundering and terrorism financing has been assessed as “medium” according to the national assessment conducted by the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
This disclosure emerged as the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) published the sanitized report of the 2021/2022 National Risk Assessment on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing.
The comprehensive assessment was developed through collaborative efforts between the CBSL’s Financial Intelligence Unit and various stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.
The National Risk Assessment pinpointed several key areas of concern. It identified drug trafficking, bribery, corruption, and customs-related offenses, including the laundering of trade-based proceeds, as the most prevalent predicate offenses, elevating the money laundering threat to a medium-high level.
Fraud, robbery, environmental, and natural resource crimes were noted to have a medium-level money laundering threat. Meanwhile, activities such as human smuggling or trafficking, tax offenses, illegal and unreported fishing, were assessed as having a medium-low money laundering threat, with counterfeiting of currency posing a lower threat.
The assessment extended to evaluating the money laundering risk within financial and designated non-financial businesses and professions. Notably, the Informal Money Remitting sector was identified as having a high risk.
The Real Estate sector, Banking sector, and Finance Companies were deemed to carry a medium-high risk. Money Value Transfer Services Providers, Stockbrokers, Primary Dealers, Casinos, Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones, Notaries, and Lawyers were categorized with a medium-level threat.
In contrast, Accountants, Trust and Company Service Providers, and Insurance service providers were found to have a medium-low-level threat of money laundering.
The Financial Intelligence Unit emphasized the critical importance of strong political commitment in addressing the national Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financial Terrorism plan. Furthermore, understanding the current risk environment allows stakeholders to allocate resources effectively, particularly to high-risk areas, in order to safeguard the integrity of Sri Lanka’s financial system moving forward.
A group of unknown assailants, arriving in a vehicle, launched a brazen attack on the vehicle of Member of Parliament, Uddika Premaratne, shortly after his return to his residence in Anuradhapura.
Premaratne has managed to escape unharmed from this terrifying ordeal.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Northern provinces and in Galle, Matara and Puttalam districts. Fairly heavy showers above 50mm are likely at some places.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Eastern, Uva, Central and North-Central provinces, and in Hambantota district during the evening or night.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Indian Naval Ship ‘Nireekshak’, a highly advanced diving support ship of the Indian Navy, arrived at the port of Trincomalee on 14 September 2023 for facilitating Mixed Gas Diving training for the Sri Lanka Navy.
2. The ship was warmly welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions. Post arrival, Commanding Officer of the Indian Naval ship, Commander Jeetu Singh Chauhan called on Commander of Eastern Naval Area, Rear Admiral PS De Silva. They held cordial discussions on furthering training in diving during the eight-day deployment. Engagements such yoga onboard, interaction with School children and beach cleaning are being undertaken by the personnel onboard. 28th Anniversary Celebration onboard the ship was attended by the Deputy Area Commander.
3. Indian Naval Ship ‘Nireekshak’ (A-15) is equipped with two six-man recompression chambers and one three-man diving bell. The ship is fully capable to undertake rescue operations from a submarine in distress and training of saturation divers. The ship had earlier visited Trincomalee in September 2019 and March 2022 for a similar training deployment for SLN divers. Such continued engagement of Indian Naval ships with the Sri Lanka Navy is in keeping with Government of India’s capacity building initiative as part of its ‘Neighborhood First’ policy.
Dr Mary Srikanthi Handy was the daughter of the famous Dr George Rajanayagam Handy who was the pioneer cardiologist of Sri Lanka and the founder president of the Sri Lanka Heart Association. She was born in 1935 and is the eldest child and only daughter of Dr. George and Mrs. Kanmanie Handy. Even as a very young lady she is known to have organized and coordinated fund-raising events for the YWCA and similar associations to help the poor.
Dr Srikanthi had her primary and secondary education at Ladies’ College, Colombo. She obtained her MSc from the University of Bradford, UK and joined the University of Sussex, UK for her doctoral research on motor neuron disease. She was awarded the PhD for her thesis on “Putative protein abnormalities in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis” which also generated several scientific papers on related scientific matters in peer reviewed journals.
She has two brothers, Dr John Lakshman Handy, consultant anesthetist in UK, and youngest brother, Emeritus Professor George Handy, University of Southern Carolina, USA.
Dr Srikanthi worked as a medical researcher in the university department in the UK for over 30 years and returned to Sri Lanka in the early 1990s to care for her father Dr G R Handy who was ailing at the time.
Dr G R Handy passed away in 1995 and it was then that Dr Srikanthi decided to harness her resources and energies into philanthropic projects to commemorate her father’s memory. She adored her father and used to relate how he would take her as a young girl on his hospital ward rounds, casualty and home visits and describe the medical condition of the patient and how he planned to tackle the problem. One had the impression that she would have liked to have pursued a career in medicine, but it was not to be so.
Her lasting legacy will be her philanthropic efforts in her father’s name.
She founded the Dr. G R Handy Foundation that donated a state-of-the-art cardiology ward at the General Hospital, Colombo which she then visited daily to assist and support its maintenance.
She donated a computer laboratory to St John’s College, Jaffna where her grandfather had been a principal and where Dr. G R Handy had his initial years of education.
She extended a generous hand to the Children’s heart project which was run under the supervision of Dr P N Thenabadu and Dr J J Stphen. Many children with heart disease profited from this project. Later on she decided to embark on her own by establishing the Dr. G R Handy memorial trust fund.
A major target for this trust fund was the Children’s ASD surgery project. When she realized that the waiting time in the National Hospital cardiac surgery lists were long, she decided to help these children by sponsoring their surgery in the private sector. She put in place an efficient mechanism to assist the patient’s families, with monetary difficulties, to obtain the President’s fund allocation and paid the remainder of the surgical expenses for the closure of the ASD in the private sector. Over 100 children with ASD’s were assisted in this way. The patients were referred to Dr. Y. K. M. Lahie, MBBS, MS, FRCS, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon who helped and cooperated with Dr. Srikanthi in this work.
When ASD closures were transformed from thoracic surgery to device closure techniques, she provided the funds to purchase ASD devices when the General Hospital Device stocks were exhausted.
Dr. Srikanthi’s special concern for children with heart disease made her decide to sponsor a pediatric heart disease ward in the institute of cardiology. Ward 70 was allocated for this, and she refurbished the ward and equipped it fully. This unit functioned very efficiently until pediatric cardiology was shifted to LRH. Dr Srikanthi was disappointed but agreed to have ward 70 as a post cardiac procedure ward.
Other major contributions by Dr. Srikanthi were to donate the funds and organize the Cardiology unit at the Teaching Hospital, Jaffna, which was named as Dr G R Handy memorial cardiology unit. It is now a full-fledged Cardiology unit, rendering invaluable service to the Northern province.
From the academic perspective, Dr Srikanthi endowed the annual Dr G R Handymemorial oration of the Sri Lanka Heart Association, now Sri Lanka College of Cardiology. She would attend the annual oration with her friends and well-wishers.
She used her personal wealth both inherited and earned and also organized fund raising events (A musical extravagance organized by Dr Srikanthi made a profit of one million rupees) to extend and expand the Dr G R Handy memorial trust fund.
Her love for her father flowed out to his village as well.
Eagle Care Project: This Project is based on the slogan “Give a child a life”
The Eagle Care Project operates in the below areas:
(Provision of scholarships at St Johns College, Jaffna for needy, academically gifted children, Improvement of educational facilities at St Johns College, Provision of financial assistance to children with medical needs, Technology enhancement programs, Mental health awareness and children with special needs etc).
She also donated a stock of bicycles to the students of that area to facilitate their school transport.
The agriculture improvement program at St. John’s College is up and running. Under CTF’s “Eagle Care” has been invested in this project. This project is funded by Dr. G. R. Handy and Mr. John Roy Fussey, Memorial Agriculture Improvement Fund. The primary purpose of the project was to educate the students on agricultural science and as it is related to the syllabus, the project provides practical knowledge and farming experience for the agriculture students.
In more recent years, the Dr G R Handy foundation also funded the building of a considerable amount of social housing for widows in Jaffna and sixteen houses were built in the village of Ariyalai, which was her father’s birthplace. The social housing project was facilitated through Zonta International. The ground supervision of this project was personally done by Prof Chandrika Wijeyratne who was the Zonta president at that time.
Dr Srikanthi went out of her way at time to help the patients. A case in point: A young woman with primary pulmonary hypertension who needed domiciliary oxygen to help her breath was given an oxygen concentrator and container which was fully funded by her. This equipment was passed on to three more patients.
During her final years when her health was failing and she was frail, she chose not to live in luxury with all comforts but decided to leave her assets in a trust to facilitate education for children of poor families.
Born and bred in a strong Christian family with an ancestry of priests within it as well, Dr Srikanthi would attend Sunday mass whenever she could.
Her only child, Professor Paul Rohan Mather, studied at St Thomas’s College, Mount Lavinia and qualified as a chartered accountant in the UK where he worked for many years. He did further studies at the University of Lancaster and completed a PhD at Monash University, Australia. He has had many academic roles including as an Associate Dean at Monash University, Dean of La Trobe University Business School and had visiting professorial appointments at the London School of Economics, University of Liverpool and the University of Colombo. She also has three grandchildren and two great grandchildren in Australia.
Dr Srikanthi used to recall that her father Dr G R Handy would often quote “Service is the rent we pay for the room we occupy on earth”. None could contest that Dr. Srikanthi has paid her ‘rent’ more than fully, when she peacefully passed away in August 2023.
