Sri Lanka seeks enhanced military training from India

Sri Lanka has sought enhanced military training from India, according to President Maithripala Sirisena’s office.

Visiting Indian Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra called on Mr. Sirisena on Monday, and wide-ranging matters, including bilateral defence cooperation between the neighbouring countries and regional security, were discussed, officials said.

“India and Sri Lanka agreed to increase cooperation in security and defence spheres in several areas, including regional security, curbing drug smuggling and human trafficking and training of members of the security forces,” a statement from the presidential media unit said.

Thanking India for its partnership, Mr. Sirisena requested to increase the number of personnel trained by India. The Indian Defence Secretary agreed to look into the possibility of enhancing training facilities, the statement further said.

Currently, over 60% of Sri Lanka’s military personnel pursue their young officers’ course, junior and senior command courses in India, according to defence sources in Colombo.

Meanwhile, ‘Exercise Mitra Shakti’, the sixth edition of the joint military training exercise between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army, concluded in Badulla district, in Sri Lanka’s Central Province, on Monday.

Contingents from the two countries jointly planned and executed a series of “well-coordinated tactical operations based on scenarios that are likely to be encountered in rural and urban environment”, a press release from the Indian Ministry of Defence said. The two-week programme is part of an initiative that began in 2013 as part of military diplomacy between India and Sri Lanka.

Source

Sri Lanka’s new tourism advisory committee gets down to work

Mar 14, 2019 (LBO) – With an eye on achieving the targeted 3 million tourist arrivals this year, a newly constituted Tourism Advisory Committee has been appointed by Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs, John Amaratunga.

The 14 member committee comprises of private sector tourism stakeholders and is headed by business magnate Harry Jayawardena.

The other members of the Tourism Advisory Committee are: Dammika Perera (Hayleys), Merril Fernando (Dilmah), Abbas Esufally (Hemas), Sanjiv Gardiner (Galle Face Hotel Group), Krishan Balendra (John Keells), Shiromal Cooray (Jetwing), Kuok Meng Xiong (Shangri-la), Ashok Pathirage (Softlogic), C.J. Wickremasinghe (Connaissance), Raman Murthy (Taj Hotels), Nalin Jayasundera (Aitken Spence Travels), Vipula Gunatilleka and N. Ranasinghe. The Committee Coordinator is Dinesh Weerakkody while the Convenor is Felix Rodrigo.

The new Advisory Committee met for the first time at the Tourism Ministry recently under the auspices of Minister John Amaratunga.

The Chairman of the four tourism bureau and department heads presented their respective performance reports and forward plans to the Advisory Committee.

Minister Amaratunga stated that arrivals so far this year are on target and Sri Lanka stands to benefit from some big international events that are to be held in the country this year.

Some of them include the IronMan and Raid Amazon events, CITES Global Conference of Parties which will see the participation of nearly 4,000 foreign delegates in May and the Worldwide Bohra community spiritual gathering that will attract around 30,000 followers.

He expressed confidence that with the stabilization of the political environment and security situation, arrivals are likely to pick up much faster in the latter part of the year.

Tourism Advisory Committee Chairman Harry Jayawardena noted that it was a commendable move to bring Wildlife under the Tourism portfolio as the two subjects were inter-connected.

He noted that this was a major strength and many pending issues could now be easily resolved. Jayawardena also cautioned the industry about price undercutting, stating that it is the country that will have to face the repercussions of a price war. He called for unity among the major players and to work towards the greater good of the industry.

John Keells Chairman, Krishan Balendra drew attention to the airport capacity issue which continues to be a major stumbling block to the industry. He pointed out that if 4 million arrivals are to be achieved by 2020 there must be a corresponding increase in airport capacity. Balendra added that a new terminal was no longer an option but an urgent necessity.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka Tourism revealed that its main targets for the next two year were to achieve Rs. 7bn in foreign exchange earnings, provide direct and permanent employment to 600,000 individuals out of whom at least 10 percent would be women, and to increase the per capita spend per tourist from the present US$ 164 to 210 dollars per visitor.

In order to prepare for the anticipated larger numbers Sri Lanka Tourism is to invest in new infrastructure development, expedite resort land alienation, informal sector integration and strengthen Tourist Police and lifesaving presence in all key resort areas. Sri Lanka Tourism will also facilitate loans for development of home stay units, construction of additional rooms in identified locations and also expedite new resort development.

The Tourism Advisory Committee is expected to meet regularly and monitor progress of the proposed development initiatives.

Source

Of elephants and tourists: Sustainable wildlife tourism in Sri Lanka

Srilal Miththapala, eTN Sri Lanka ambassador, delivered a talk on “Sri Lanka Tourism & Sustainability with special emphasis on Elephants” at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Canberra recently.

The audience consisting of travel writers, tourism industry representatives, as well as wildlife and elephant enthusiasts enjoyed the informative and insightful presentation with video clips of elephants in Sri Lanka. 

This is the second talk given by Srilal Miththapala at the High Commission and the third in the series of tourism promotional events hosted by the High Commission to provide the tourism industry, travel writers, and wildlife experts in Canberra an opportunity to see a glimpse of what Sri Lanka has to offer in terms of wildlife and sustainable tourism. 

After a brief overview of Sri Lanka’s topography and tourism factors, Miththapala focused on the Sri Lankan elephant which is fast becoming an icon for Sri Lanka tourism. He described the cultural and religious importance of this special animal in the country as well as its demographics, behavior, and social life. He also entertained the audience with stories of personal encounters with these gentle giants revered in the island nation, along with images and videos. 

High Commissioner Somasundaram Skandakumar, in introducing the speaker, highlighted his vast experience in the hospitality industry and in developing sustainable tourism practices in Sri Lanka.

A very lively Q and A session followed with many questions from travel writers and journalists in the audience. 

The audience was able to interact with the speaker at the end while savoring Sri Lankan tea and delicacies. 

Source

 

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Guidance plays a key role especially when we are not aware of the totality with regards to a process. This is the case often with Visa applications when applied for Sri Lanka ETA Visa. Our customer care executives are available round-the-clock for the sake of helping the applicants with their Sri Lanka e-visa and also a Live Chat feature is available with us for instant clarifications.

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3 easy steps in online application form of srilanka online eta visa

 

Sri Lanka is an island and a beautiful country that is surrounded by the Indian Ocean. This should explain how many beaches would sit on every corner of this land. Being a coastal area, there is plenty of greenery which consists of coconut trees in most parts of the nation. This calms every soul that sets foot on its grounds. Moreover, when there is monsoon, the beaches give the best of their waves with fresh breezes that give serenity. This is the reason why this nation has always won hearts of travelers and stands in the top spot of best countries to visit during the September to December period. And on top of it, Visa requirements for Sri Lanka were never made so easy by us. We have a special team of experts in visa who will process the applications of Sri Lankan Visa after reviewing the possible errors made from the applicant’s side. Apply now and get visa in hours !

what is the significance of srilanka tourist visa

For traveling through the amazing place of Sri-Lanka, you need to apply for a Sri lanka travel visa and this visa gives the legitimacy of two days' stay that too at free charges. But it is essential for you to carry your documentary proof.

Travellers who convey certain travel permits don't need to worry over getting a travel visa. For a suspicion, let us accept that for a brief, holders of Sri-Lankan identification couldn't get ready to clear through any European nation without having any substantial Transit Visa. At that point for this situation, the carriers would simply deny boarding. Traveling through Sri Lanka implies that an individual need to convey a Sri-Lankan online travel visa and through an online framework it can be done to effortlessly. The Sri-Lankan ETA encourages official approval for visits up to 30 days and is issued online. Individuals who needed to accept here and now visits must acquire an ETA going before to their landing in Sri Lanka.

Even more significantly ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) was confined by the Sri-Lankan government on first January 2012 to fortify lawful movement in their own particular nation.

The point which must be made notice is that it has been made necessary for non Sri-Lankans to convey Sri-Lankan online tourist visa.

• Essentially to decrease the worry of visitors who get bothered because of the deferral in grant of visa to investigate the island country of Sri-Lanka.

• Besides, the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Colombo, has rearranged and given the online administrations of filling ETA application structures to the vacationers.

• Tourists can apply online for Sri Lanka ETA which is completely electronic processing online submission and the approval for the same (authority to enter Sri Lanka) will be communicated via email.

how sri lanka is fast becoming a popular holiday destination for 2017

British passport holders will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa before they can enter Sri Lanka. You can obtain a short stay tourist visa if the purpose of your visit is leisure including sightseeing, visiting friends and family, medical treatment, participating in sporting events or competitions and activities relating cultural performances. There are several types of ETA short stay visa's a UK citizen can apply for. The first is the standard 30 day visa, which allows you single entry into the country. Visitors can also opt for a double entry 30 day visa.

 

Although you can obtain a visa upon arrival in Sri Lanka, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise getting this prior to departure to prevent any delays when you arrive. According to the FCO, if you overstay your visa you could face a fine, be detained or deported. If you have obtained a 30 day visa, this can be extended whilst you are over there. In order for your visa application to be approved your passport will need to be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive in Sri Lanka. And according to Sri Lankan authorities, any false or misleading statements on your visa application could mean you are denied entry into the country permanently.

                      

Brits will need to apply for an ETA visa before they head to Sri Lanka

However, obtaining an ETA does not necessarily guarantee you will be allowed to enter the country - this will be at the discretion of the immigration officers when you pass through customs.

You could be denied entry upon arrival into Sri Lanka if you have the following items in your possession:

• Dangerous drugs
• Narcotic substances
• Pornographic or séditions material
• Any items that ridicule a religious belief

The following items are restricted and you will be denied entry into Sri Lanka if you have not got a permit, which must be obtained before travel:

• Fire arms, ammunition, explosives and weapons
• Medication other than for personal use
• Goods for commercial or trade purposes except for samples
• Plants, fruits, birds and bird products

 

Tourists are forbidden to be in a picture with a historic monument in Sri Lanka

Items such as cameras, laptops and iPads, are allowed but must be declared on arrival.

Foreign currency more than US$10,000 (£8,093) must also be declared upon arrival.

Holidaymakers heading to Sri Lanka should be warned that they can only photograph the ancient monuments if they have purchased a permit to do so from the Central Cultural Fund, which has offices in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Kandy.

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Sri Lanka Holidays

Take a break from your daily monotonous or dull routine and plan holidays to Sri Lanka. This Asian country is dotted with several attractive places like tea estates, heritage places, waterfalls and gardens. Let me bring to you a sneak peek of Sri Lanka tourism. Before we explain on Sri Lanka Tourism one important thing you need to highly consider is having a Sri Lankan visa. Make Sri Lanka tourist visa then enjoy your tour.
 

Top Tourist Places
 

Colombo (Las Vegas of Sri Lanka): The commercial city of Sri Lanka is Colombo that possesses all the ingredients to serve as one of the fabulous destination of the country. This old city has witnessed many different ages or eras like Portuguese, Dutch and British time in the past. It is located on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, Colombo city is a combination of hilly and marshy land. The climate is generally hot except in the monsoon (April-September) when it rains heavily. Despite being a modern city of Sri Lanka, this city reflects the rich and traditional culture of the country. The city is full of majestic landmarks like Parliament Building, the two World Trade Center towers and Jami Ul Alfar mosque.
 

Galle: The city Galle is situated in the South Coast of Sri Lanka which attracts tourist from different pockets of the world. The impressive Galle Fort, Unawatuna Bay, Weligama and Koggala, the National Maritime Museum are the must-visited places for visitors in Galle.
 

Kandy: Who bring the royalty to Sri Lanka non other then Kandy. This city has witnessed the bygone royalty of Sri Lanka. In today's date it fortifies the vibrant Sinhalese culture, tradition and region. Places like Kandy Lake, Cadjugama, Temple of the Tooth, Henarathgoda Botanical Garden, Elephant Orphanage at Pinnewala and Royal Palace Complex are the must-visit places in Kandy.
 

Kataragama: If in this summer you are planning to spend your time with your family then Kataragama is a well-known home for summer festival in Sri Lanka. It is located on the bank of River Menik and a religious destination for Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. A temple in Kataragama called Deviyo(Buddhist God) dedicated to Buddhism is highly visited by devotees, all the year round.
 

Best time to visit: Every country has some time or month to visit so Sri Lanka experiences favorable climate all the year round. Generally, monsoon and dry season rule the region all throughout the year. The south-west coastal areas and the hilly region remain dry from November to April. While the east coast remain dry from May to September. Hence forth, traveling to Sri Lanka is comfortable for all the year round.
 

How to reach Sri Lanka?
 

This is not a big question. Obviously by air only you can reach to Sri Lanka. If you like to travel by sea then you can try for ships. As Sri Lanka is round the year tourist destination the only and best way to reach there is via air. Book your holiday package for Sri Lanka. Choose the best hotels to stay. Before that don't forget to make your Sri Lanka visa. Have a nice stay in Sri Lanka.