Minister of External Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris had discussions with representatives of all public sector institutions involved in preparations for the Business Forum which will be held on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo in November. Project proposals were identified, and appropriate measures discussed to enhance participation by entrepreneurs of the highest stature from more than 70 countries. Business Chambers from a number of countries outside the Commonwealth are also being invited. The Chairpersons of 23 Committees responsible for a range of activities connected with the Business Forum took part in the meeting at the Ministry of External Affairs. The Business Forum in Colombo will highlight opportunities for trade, investment and tourism in Sri Lanka at this time.

Ministry of External Affairs,

Republic Building,

Colombo 01.

Good response at Handicraft, Handlooms, Batik and Sri Lankan delicacies Exhibition held in the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Kuwait

Eye catching handicrafts, Handlooms, Batiks, as well as Sri Lankan delicacies were on display at an Exhibition held recently at the Embassy premises in Kuwait organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Kuwait in collaboration with the Ministry of Traditional Industries & Small Enterprise Development, Ministry of Western Province Agriculture, Industrial and Environment, and Kuwait Manpower Welfare Association.

Hon. Weerakumara Dissanayake, Deputy Minister of the  subject along with Mrs. Geetha Kumarasinghe, Film Star turned politician graced the occasion. Hon. Deputy Minister opening of the Exhibition said “providing such an opportunity for small scale grass root level Craftsmen will go a long way to promote their products for a bigger market.”

Huge number of Sri Lankans as well as foreign nationals visited the exhibition and commended the initiative taken by the Embassy in organizing such an event for the public.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Kuwait

14th May 2013

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait in conjunction with Al Rahma Committee for medical services and Indian Youth Club conducted a free medical camp recently to cater to the health needs of thousands Sri Lankans in Kuwait.  Doctors and health care professionals provided medical check-up and advice to attendees at the camp on a one-to-one basis.

Besides free medical check-up the charity organization also distributed some free medicines to the patients.  Al Rahma Committee for Medical services brought along some Kuwaiti, Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan doctors and nurses to assist participants of the one day event.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Kuwait

06.05.2013

Sri Lanka expects 200,000 Tourists in 2016 from Middle East

The outbound tourism from Middle Eastern region has been increasing since last few years tremendously and the same were reflected by the respective tourist statistics to Sri Lanka from the said market. Consequently, the State of Kuwait has been identified as a promising region which has a high growth rate throughout the past years.

The eight themes outlined in the tourism strategy from 2011-2016 will be the of promotions in the Middle East, whilst keeping the consistent theme of “Wonder of Asia”. Sri Lanka will focus more on fine-tuning the facilities to cater to the Middle Eastern traveller, such as, villa type accommodation, Hallal food, training and developing Arabic speaking guides, hotel staff to familiarize with Middle Eastern Customs.

Under the guidance of Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, the Minister of Economic Development, SLTPB has identified Middle East as a market with high potential, and therefore, a series of promotional activities have already been planned to be executed this lucrative market. With this ambition, a three day promotional campaign has been arranged to take place in the region and also leading personnel from Arabian Travel Agencies and Media will be invited to Sri Lanka for FAM tours in the next year.

In this year, SLTPB expects to attract 90,000 visitors from the Middle Eastern nations. In 2016, however, with the target of the Sri Lankan government to achieve 2.5 million arrivals, the total expectation from the Middle Eastern nations will rise up to 200,000 arrivals.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Road Show 2013 in Kuwait was organized and presented by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Kuwait and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau on the 1st of May 2013 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kuwait.

The main objective of this event was to create destination awareness through leading tour operator and media units in the state Of Kuwait.

Major Tour operator from Sri Lanka also participated at the event to focus on starting a link with tour operators in Kuwait and to encourage the agents to include Sri Lanka as their next promising travel destination.

The event started off with an interesting speech and presentation by H.E. Ambassador C.A.H.M. Wijeratne on "Destination Sri Lanka – Wonder of Asia." It was followed by tourism promotional videos by SLTPB and presentations by Sri Lankan Airlines. The event was concluded with a business interaction sessions and a dinner reception.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Kuwait

05th May 2013

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER CAMERON WILL ATTEND CHOGM IN SRI LANKA - DR CHRIS NONIS

British Prime Minister Rt Hon David Cameron, and Foreign Secretary Rt Hon William Hague, will be attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka, Dr Chris Nonis, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK confirmed. The Commonwealth biennial meeting in November this year, will be preceded by the Commonwealth People’s Forum, the Commonwealth Youth Forum, and the Commonwealth Business Forum, and usually attracts several thousand delegates, and global media coverage. It will provide the opportunity for the 54 Heads to meet to discuss matters of global and Commonwealth concern, and agree collective policies and initiatives.