31pct more British Tourists visit Sri Lanka from January to November in 2010

22nd December 2010, ukinsrilanka.fco.gov.uk

According to the statistics, there are 95,320 British tourists have visited Sri Lanka from 1st January 2010 to 30th November 2010 – a 31% increase compared to last year.

According to statistics published by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the overall tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka have increased by 47% in 2010, compared to 2009. The total tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka from January to November 2010 were 569,849 of which 17% were British tourists. On Tuesday, 14 December, 2010, officials of the SLTDA waited at Bandaranaike International Airport to welcome the 600,000th tourist to Sri Lanka during 2010. The 600,000th arrival was Mr. Nick Davis, a British national, who arrived with his partner, Leila Diani. They were greeted by the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, and Mr. Malraj Kiriella, Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

Statistics show that 95,320 British tourists visited Sri Lanka as at 30 November, 2010 and forecasts expect it to pass 125,000 by the end of this year. In 2009 too, 19% of total tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka were from the UK.

The British government eased its travel advice to Sri Lanka in August 2010. It no longer advises against travel to any part of Sri Lanka.

The Consular Section of the British High Commission in Colombo work hard to help British nationals visiting Sri Lanka. They introduced an SMS alert system in April 2010 which informs British nationals arriving in Sri Lanka of the contact details of the Consular section. British nationals visiting Sri Lanka for more than a month are asked to register themselves on the Consular database. The Consular team also actively promotes the importance of cultural sensitivity among British tourists to Sri Lanka, in order to have a fun-filled and incident-free holiday. They publish annual travel advice booklets that outline simple, clear and concise information, covering all bases. They also focus on respect for religion and religious monuments and sites, awareness of local laws and customs and even common sense advice, such as making copies of one’s passport and remaining aware of security risks.

Deputy High Commissioner, Mark Gooding, commented on the increase of British tourists to Sri Lanka. “This is a beautiful country to visit and the historical connections between the UK and Sri Lanka mean lots of British nationals want to come here each year. It is very important for British tourists to read the FCO travel advice before they arrive here. Our Consular team in Colombo is readily available to advise and help British nationals who encounter problems during their stay – but obviously what we want most is to help them prevent unfortunate incidents so they can enjoy their Sri Lankan vacation happily and safely.”

Related Info:
Sri Lanka Tourism Statistics and Tourist Arrivals

Britain to Invest in Sri Lanka Oil Exploration and Infrastructure

15th October 2010, www.news360.lk, By Prasanna C Rodrigo

The United Kingdom says, Businesses in Britain is showing a great interest to invest here in Sri Lanka and is already bidding to obtain some of the big infrastructure development contracts.

The Deputy Head of UK Trade and Investment at the British High Commission in Colombo Nadeesha Epasinghe said apart from it, few UK companies are also looking at the possibility of engaging in oil exploration activities here in the country.

Speaking to www.news60.lk she said, UK Trade and Investment is following up with those companies to activate those plans.

Touching further Epasinghe also noted Britain which brought in the 2nd largest share of FDI’s to Sri Lanka in 2009 counting for a sum of US$ 300 million wants Sri Lanka and UK to be “Partners in Prosperity”.

Following is the full interview Nadeesha Epasinghe, who is the Deputy Head of UK Trade and Investment at the British High Commission in Colombo had with us.

Q1. How does UK see the trade and investment climate here in the country?

The UK has close and long-standing bilateral ties with Sri Lanka. The two countries have built on their historical links to develop a close partnership across a wide range of spheres, especially in trade, culture and education. In addition to these ties, the bilateral people-to-people links are also very strong. Many Sri Lankans have studied or worked in the UK and regard it as their second home and Sri Lanka is a top tourist destination for Britons. Statistics released by the Board of Investment (BOI) also support these links. In 2009, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by the UK totalled nearly US$300 million – the second largest share of FDI from a single country for 2009. Meanwhile, UK exports to Sri Lanka totalled US$186 million while imports from Sri Lanka to the UK totalled US $1 billion in 2009.

There are over 100 companies in Sri Lanka with a UK affiliation and some of these British investments are expanding their operations. I recently visited AB Mauri (a company owned by the Association of British Foods) which has a substantial investment in Sri Lanka and has recently expanded their operations with an Rs.50 million investment into a bakery school. In addition, some of the biggest British businesses operate in Sri Lanka, such as Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Triumph, GlaxoSmithKlein, Aviva, HSBC and Scott Wilson. Clearly, the UK and Sri Lanka already enjoy an extensive business partnership across many sectors. We at the British High Commission believe this partnership can be further strengthened and that the UK and Sri Lanka can be “Partners in Prosperity”. This is why we continue to engage with government officials, businesses, chambers of commerce and other key decision makers in Sri Lanka to further strengthen the bilateral trade relationship.

Q2. There have been many stories about UK investors showing an interest to invest in Sri Lanka after the end of the conflict. What is the level of progress in this regard?

We are receiving a lot of business interest from companies across different sectors in the UK in doing business with Sri Lanka. We are working with these potential investors, introducing them to the key players in the market and helping them assess the opportunities available.

Q3. What areas are they focusing on to invest in Sri Lanka?

The sectors that we see as having the greatest potential for UK companies in Sri Lanka are infrastructure, tourism, power, education and training and ICT. In addition, we feel that there are opportunities in the areas of agriculture, fisheries and garments (in which UK companies can build on the already existing links).

Q4. During an investor forum in Malaysia recently, you made a presentation about the opportunities Sri Lanka presents in regard with oil exploration. Are any of the British firms eyeing to bid for oil exploration activities in the country?

I attended the SubSea Asia Conference in Kula Lumpur in June and presented some of the opportunities available for oil exploration. There was some interest and we are following up with the relevant companies to take this forward. In addition we are supporting the British Company Cairn Energy who are about to embark on off-shore drilling off the coast of Mannar early next year; this is an investment of US$100 million.

Q5. Do you see any key players already in the pipeline, planning to enter Sri Lanka, maybe for projects like ports, airports, roads etc.?

There are already a number of UK companies involved in infrastructure development projects. The British company, Scott Wilson, is developing the Colombo Port and is also involved in the South Harbour Development to provide a robust and bankable business plan for the phased development.

We also have Mabey Bridge who constructed the flyovers and are engaged in a regional rural bridge development project. They have so far constructed 76 bridges and have another 60 to complete.

Moreover, there are other companies that are bidding for some big contracts in infrastructure developments. We will have to wait and see if they are successful!

Q6. Overall, how does the UK see Sri Lanka which is now a peaceful country?

The UK will continue to have strong friendly ties with Sri Lanka. We are at a historic point where our two countries can

build new partnerships and strengthen our commercial ties. The dawn of peace has created a unique opportunity for prosperity.

The UK welcomes this opportunity and wants to support Sri Lanka to capitalise on it. We believe that Sri Lanka is on the cusp

of achieving sustainable economic growth and investment. My team will support Sri Lanka’s economic development; both by

helping UK companies seeking to do business in Sri Lanka as well as helping Sri Lankan companies invest in the UK. We will

work towards Sri Lanka and the UK being partners in prosperity.

Sri Lanka Expects 100,000 British Tourists in 2010

15th October 2010, www.dailynews.lk, By Charumini De Silva

British High Commission in Sri Lanka expects over 100,000 British tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka this year.

"In tourism, we expect well over 100,000 British nationals to visit Sri Lanka during this year representing the largest group of Western tourists to Sri Lanka whilst contributing to the success of the Sri Lankan tourism industry. UK is the natural choice for investors that are looking for new business partnerships or opportunities," Deputy British High Commissioner, Mark Gooding said.

He was speaking at a seminar on UK and Sri Lanka: Partners in prosperity organized by the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan exports to the UK are worth of US$ one billion a year.

UK companies provide over US$ 300 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Sri Lanka and over 100 UK affiliated companies operate in Sri Lanka.

“The UK is a gateway to the European market. As a member of the European Union (EU), UK provides access to the single biggest common market in the world. Many Sri Lankan companies are already benefitting from collaboration with the UK,” he said.

The Deputy High Commissioner said the economic recovery in UK has given UK and Sri Lanka a historic opportunity to create new business partnerships and further increase two way trade and investment in the fast growing business environment. “The British High Commission is committed to support this process and stands ready to assist UK and Sri Lankan companies in building prosperity together”, Gooding said.

He said the British High Commission provides extensive market support to British companies eager to invest in Sri Lanka from 150 million pounds to 200 million pounds and is developing a new business express visa program for companies whose staff need to travel regularly to the UK. “It is clear that the UK and Sri Lanka already enjoy extensive business partnerships across many sectors. With annual Gross Domestic Production (GDP) growth rates already of eight percent in Sri Lanka the potential for a sustained period of economic growth and investment in the future is clearly high”, the envoy said.

Related Info:
Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals - Statistics

Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals in September 24.6pct up from a Year ago

British-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce Established in London

04th October 2010, www.island.lk

Heralding the propulsion of trade interests between Britain and Sri Lanka, the British – Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce was established on September 16th, 2010 at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London at an event attended by Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Sarath Amunugama, in the presence of prominent UK businessmen, Industrialists and Financiers.

At the occasion, the President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), Neville Reyner signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Secretary General/CEO of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Harin Malwatte, establishing the British – Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce.

The British Chambers of Commerce, established in 1768 and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, established in 1839, together boast an impressive and wide-ranging membership with extensive outreach.

Presentations made by the Secretary – General/CEO CCC and the Chairman of De La Rue in the UK considerably boosted the business confidence of the participants at the launch of the British – Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce.

Secretary General/CEO of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Harin Malwatte in his presentation of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the investment opportunities in Sri Lanka mentioned the attractive investment climate prevailing in Sri Lanka at present:

political stability, ending of a 3 decade long war, infrastructure development and improvements in the ease of doing business with a host of other conditions.

The Preferential Tariff Agreements enjoyed by SL (PTAs) such as the Indo Lanka Free Trade Agreement, Pakistan Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, SAARC Free Trade Agreement and the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement were highlighted as being conducive to investments. Bilateral investment protection agreements supported by a constitutional guarantee provide strong protection to foreign investment. Sri Lanka has never defaulted nor has requested rescheduling of any of its international obligations.

Malwatte went on to note that since the ending of the war, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has hosted 12 large investor missions in 2009 and 13 up to now in 2010.

In addition 9 delegations from India alone have been hosted by the Chamber. This he mentioned was an indication of the investment interest in Sri Lanka. The UK is not on the top 10 investment countries in 2009 and he expressed the hope that by the end 2011, the UK will figure out as one top 10 investors in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Offers Best Long Haul value to UK Travellers According to Post Office's Research

27th September 2010, www.telegraph.co.uk

Britain's long-haul travellers will find that their pound will stretch furthest in Sri Lanka, Mexico and the Far East this winter, according to new research into holiday costs.

Australia and Hong Kong were the least cost-effective destinations featured in the survey, which also revealed significant rises in the price of food, drinks and supermarket goods in Thailand and South Africa.

The Post Office's annual Long-Haul Holiday Report compares the cost of 10 essential holiday purchases – such as an evening meal, a cup of coffee and sun cream – in 22 destinations.

In Sri Lanka, the 10 items cost just £46.85, compared with £155.48 in the Australian capital, Sydney.

Research released this week by Hayes and Jarvis, a tour operator specialising in long-haul trips, also suggested that Sri Lanka is among the best-value destinations for a package holiday, with a one-week break in November costing £799 on average, bettered only by Egypt (£649) and the Dominican Republic (£729).

Sri Lanka has witnessed a sharp rise in visitors following the end to hostilities between government forces and Tamil separatists in the north and east of the island. Nearly 400,000 foreign tourists visited in the first eight months of 2010, an increase of 47 per cent on the previous year.

Thailand – the cheapest destination in the Post Office's 2009 report – fell to sixth in the survey, thanks in part to the strength against the pound of the Thai baht, which is worth 11.6 per cent more than last year. The 10 items cost £52.85 in Phuket, up by 16 per cent on last year.

Mexico and Kenya finished second and third in the survey. UK sales of the Mexican peso and the Kenyan shilling have risen by 5 and 11 per cent, respectively, while the Kenyan Tourism Board has reported a 7 per cent rise in British visitors.

Malaysia and Indonesia finished fourth and fifth in the survey, with the 10 items costing British visitors £51.89 and £52.39.

Sean Tipton from Abta, the travel association, emphasised the importance of prices on the ground, particularly with air travel becoming more expensive. The latest rises in APD, due in November, will add up to £240 to the cost of long-haul flights from the UK for a family of four.

"Long-haul travel can initially look unattractive, with air fares costing more than travelling to Europe," Mr Tipton said.

"But many long-haul destinations are cheaper than the Mediterranean, with even a weak pound still going a very long way."

Elsewhere, prices in Australia, Canada and Brazil have all risen sharply, and sterling's recent weakness against the rand means that tourists visiting South Africa can expect to pay about 28 per cent more for food, drink and other holiday essentials this winter.

More Info:
Sri Lanka and Mexico 'best for long-haul value' - Telegraph

UK Investment on Apparels in Sri Lanka, Claudia International to Set Up a Project to Manufacture Garments for Export

10th November 2009, firstlanka.com

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka granted investment approval for Claudia International Limited to set up a project to manufacture garments for export. Chairman Dhammika Perera, signed the agreement on behalf of the BOI and formally presented the BOI Certificate of Registration to Chairman of Claudia International (Pvt) Limited Michael Moniatis.

The venture will be operating a garment manufacturing plant in Boralesgamuwa and will be providing employment for over 500 workers with an investment of over US$ 1 million. Products manufactured will be exported to the European Market and Ladies Fashion blouses and skirts will be the main products manufactured by the company.

Michael Moniatis has extensive experience in the apparel trade having been involved in manufacturing, design development, marketing, supplying to leading European retailers and running his own store group in the UK. His intention is to improve the design capabilities in Sri Lanka which will be an advantage in securing orders from leading European Buyers. To achieve this purpose he together with his UK Company will share the vast expertise they have in this area.

More Fashion oriented orders will be planned for the Factory in Sri Lanka and the project is expected to be fully operational within the next 6 months. Mr. Michael Moniatis, Chairman signed the agreement on behalf of Claudia International Limited.

UK Boosts Sri Lanka's Popularity with 16.9% Arrivals Increase, End Of Country's Conflict Aids Tourism

07th October, 2009, www.eturbonews.com, By eTN Staff Writer

The Indian Ocean island welcomed the highest number of British tourists in 2009 during the month of August, representing an increase of more than 1,000 visitors over August last year. Sri Lanka recorded a 16.9 percent increase in UK arrivals and a 32 percent increase in arrivals for the month across all destinations.

According to the Sri Lanka Tourist Promotion Bureau, forward bookings indicate a strong finish to the year helped by the end of the conflict in the country and the subsequent relaxation of the FCO advice, which has opened up additional major tourist attractions such as Yala National Park, Trincomalee, and Arugam Bay.

Sanjika Perera, UK director of tourism commented: "We are delighted that people have chosen to visit over the last few months, showing the renewed confidence in Sri Lanka as a safe and value for money destination.

"We have worked on a persistent promotional campaign in conjunction with the hotel industry back home and with our airline and tour operator partners in the UK, and the results have been very positive. To have improved visitor figures during the recession shows that the British public are aware of the diversity that Sri Lanka offers and keen to experience an Indian Ocean break, at an attractive price."

Image via lankajournal.com