Sri Lanka's First Guardian Equities Wins Century International Quality ERA Award

21st March 2011, www.dailynews.lk

First Guardian Equities won the CQE Century International Quality ERA Award in the Gold Category at a ceremony in Geneva recently. These awards are organized by Business Initiative Directions (BID) and were held at the International Quality Convention in Geneva at the spectacular Intercontinental Geneve Ballroom, across from the United Nations European Headquarters.

Expressing delight at this international honour, First Guardian Equities CEO (FGE) Rohan Goonewardene said that this was an honour not only for FGE but also for the industry.

“We are delighted with this international accolade. An award, be it local or global is always a source of great encouragement”.

“We are spurred on by our will to serve all our stakeholders with greater passion and be one of the top performing entities in the region and then at a global level. This award to us means that we are on the right track,” he said.

The companies selected for these awards (medium, large and some listed in the Global Fortune 500) demonstrate excellence in leadership within each designated sector, increased market share, improved results as well as sustainability. First Guardian Equities (FGE) is one of the premier stockbrokers in Sri Lanka.

Image: Century International Quality ERA Convention President Jose E. Prieto presents the award to First Guardian Equities CEO Rohan Goonewardene (Image courtesy : www.dailynews.lk).

SriLankan A320 Flight Simulator Marketed in the Region by SriLankan & SIM Industries

21st March 2011, www.lankabusinessonline.com

State-run SriLankan Airlines said had teamed up with Nederland-based SIM Industries to offer flight simulator services on Airbus A320 aircraft to the growing Indian subcontinent market.

"The A320 family of aircraft is favoured for mid-range routes among airlines worldwide, including those in the rapidly growing airline industry of the Indian Subcontinent," the airline said in a statement.

The flight simulator will be marketed in the region by both SriLankan (www.srilankan.aero) and SIM Industries (www.sim-industries.com) for the training of pilots in the operation of Airbus A320 aircraft.

The two firms had signed a 10-year deal on March 14. SriLankan said SIM Industries’ flight simulators are certified to ‘Level D’ standard, which makes it identical to that of an aircraft.

"There is a tremendous amount of potential to bring pilot training to Sri Lanka from around this region," Frank Uit den Bogaard, CEO of SIM Industries, said.

Sri Lankan says it is planning to add a second flight similar for pilot training on A330 and A340 aircraft, depending on the success of the first simulator.

The airline says flight simulator training is part of its strategy to make Sri Lanka an aviation hub under a government plan.

SriLankan already has a cadet pilot training program, and a technical training centre certified to 'EASA 147 'standard of the European Aviation Safety Agency.

UK Logistics Giant Goldstar Transport Sets up a Joint Venture in Sri Lanka. Transport & Logistics Contribute 10pct to Sri Lanka’s Economy

20th March 2011, www.island.lk

UK based logistics giant Goldstar Transport is bullish on Sri Lanka believing the post-conflict economic boom provided plenty of opportunities and the island has the potential to become a logistical hub in the region.

"The transport and logistics sector contributes 10 percent to Sri Lanka’s economy and accounts for 12 to 14 percent of employee participation out of the total workforce. With the post war economic boom in Sri Lanka an expansion in transportation will boost economic activity and create more job opportunities and additional value to the country, Goldstar Transport Ltd said in a joint statement announcing a joint venture with Global Transportation & Logistics (Pvt) Ltd to form Goldstar Transport Lanka (Pvt) Ltd at Global Park in Seeduwa recently.

Goldstar Transport Lanka is Head Quartered in Sri Lanka at No. 182, Negombo Road, Liyanagemulla, Seeduwa and is headed by Ravi Karuanayake MP as its Chairman and Simon Day as the Managing Director. They both have a vision of making Goldstar Transport Lanka, Sri Lanka’s leading transport operator and the logical choice for customers whether they are a freight forwarder or a manufacturer that needs help in transportation in Sri Lanka.

The Chairman of Goldstar Transport Lanka, Ravi Karuanayake, having started his career in the freight forwarding industry 22 years ago, also ventured into logistics 11 years ago. This lead to the opening of the global park, which is a Sri Lanka-based Logistics Centre and ‘Hub’ fully bonded with ‘State of the Art’ finishing facilities to the Apparel Industry. It is today a major warehouse in the region, providing customers the necessary quality standards that are described as being par excellence by their worldwide clientele that includes at present many leading global brands.

Karunanayake, who is also a United National Party MP, said that Sri Lanka was well placed in both the shipping and aviation routes and this provides a tremendous opportunity to the transportation industry.

"Today we need to have wider perspectives and use smarter initiatives to put Sri Lanka back on the world map .With the vast potential from aviation to navigation and from cargo transportation to logistics, we must aim to make Sri Lanka a giant hub and attract new business to become a global hub in logistics services," the opposition MP said.

Director Matthew Ashworth said he was extremely excited with this new venture and strongly believed that Goldstar Transport Lanka will make a big impact in the transport industry in Sri Lanka.

"Goldstar Transport Ltd was formed in 1998 by a management team that had a proven track record in large volume, multi-customer container transport. They currently have an annual turnover in excess of £60 million and regularly handles over 900 movements per day for a varied customer base from major shipping lines to smaller niche market operators specializing in refrigerated soft fruits, footwear and class one fireworks. Goldstar Transport’s new Traffic System, offers direct customer job input, online tracking of delivery’s and real time updates of delivery progress..Goldstar Transport has large volumes ,operating for all the major freight forwarding companies in the world." Ashworth said.

The company said its Sri Lankan operation has a quality fleet of Mercedes Benz prime movers not previously seen in Sri Lanka. The company has superior systems and technology such as IT systems that enable electronic data transfer, online real-time tracking of jobs and instant online POD facility providing customers accountability and attention to detail. With their biggest strength being their professional and dedicated staff, the company is confident by combing the strength and strategies of both organizations, they can become one that is on the forefront of the transportation industry in Sri Lanka, the joint statement said.

Maersk Launches Icon, a Dedicated Service Directly Linking Northern Europe with Sri Lanka & India

20th March 2011, www.island.lk

In response to growing export demand in the region, global shipping giant Mearsk said it launched a dedicated service, called ‘Icon’, directly linking Sri Lanka, North and East India with northern Europe.

The first ‘Icon’ vessel M.V. Maersk Miami V 1104 berthed on March 19 at the SAGT terminal in Colombo.

Picture shows the vessel’s captain and Maersk Line’s Colombo staff members on board the vessel celebrating the commencement of this new service.













Related Info :

• Colombo Port Containers Handling Grows by 11.78pct Year-on-Year. SLPA Handles a Record 205,539 TEU in January 2011

• Sri Lanka New Colombo South Port Terminal Eyes Indian Cargo for 2.4mn TEU Capacity

Sri Lanka Hosts Joint Meeting of WTO Commission for South Asia, East Asia & the Pacific. sustainable Development through Tourism

21st March 2011, www.dailynews.lk, By Gayan Kanchana

Tourism industry in the county can be developed in a sustainable manner. a UNWTO official said.

“Now Sri Lanka has identified tourism as one of the emerging fast track industries to develop the country. This positive trend will go beyond tourism to attract investors, develop infrastructure, create more jobs and enhance the reputation of the country internationally,” World Tourism Organization Media Officer Marcelo Risi told the Daily News Business at an exclusive interview.

Sri Lanka is a member of the World tourism organization. We always extend our support to develop the Sri Lankan tourism. As an emerging country Sri Lanka has immense natural and cultural assets. Sri Lanka is a bio diversity paradise. Tourism in the country can be developed sustainable manner, he said.

UNWTO responsibility is to increase the awareness of the countries like Sri Lanka to the international community. Now Sri Lanka has regained the political and social stability and number of tourism arrivals have been improved tremendously and the numbers tell us the long stories when compare with previous years tourism arrivals in the country.

Under these favourable conditions Sri Lanka can achieve a sustainable development through tourism, he said.

Sri Lanka will host the 23rd Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for South Asia and the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific, in Colombo Hilton from March 24-26. This will be held in conjunction with the UNWTO Conference on Mainstreaming Tourism in the Media.

Items on the agenda include measures UNWTO is taking to mainstream tourism on the global agenda, latest developments on the implementation of the tourism satellite account, the T20 Ministers’ initiative and a brief on UNWTO’s study planned on the importance of domestic tourism.

The Conference on Mainstreaming Tourism in the Media will focus on how tourism can be a key vehicle to overcome adverse publicity and to rebuild the image of a country while repositioning it against a backdrop of socio-political challenges.

Media play a vital role in the tourism sector globally. This is the first time UNWTO has invited diverse media groups to participated at the events like this. Tourism should not be published only in the direct media such as travel and tourism magazines, it should go beyond direct media such as business pages in the newspapers, he said.

Sri Lanka as a Gateway to Asian Tourism Highway to Promote Tourism Industry and Achieve Targets

21st March 2011, www.dailynews.lk, By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka needs to focus on creating an 'Asian Highway' to promote tourism industry as in the case of European Union countries.

We could link other Asian countries as a gateway in attracting tourists and a common visa regime could further enhance the possibility of tourist influx.

The Asian continent offers huge potential for tourism as it is the most populated continent and has a readily available market, Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka President Anura Lokuhetti told Daily News Business.

"We are sitting on a gold mine and need to exploit this situation. Asia could be promoted as a common tourist destination where there are numerous attractions," he said.

However, we need to be mindful of the tremendous competition among the regional countries and need to upgrade the service and product quality.

The infrastructure development should be in place to be on a par with these countries, he said. The English language is widely used in whole of Asia and this is an advantage for tourist promotion.

"We need to encourage more people to invest in the leisure sector and building of more hotels," he said.

The country could achieve the arrival target set by 2016. With the rapid development taking place.

Related Info :

• Sri Lanka Tourism Industry Records the Highest Tourist Arrival Growth in the world for 2010

• Sri Lanka Tourism Wins Gold Award for Essence in Marketing Media Travel Poster Category at PATA Travel Marketing Excellence Awards in Year 2011

• Sri Lanka Tourism Statistics and Tourist Arrivals

Fully Fledged Boat Complex in Beruwala with a Seven Star Hotel, Museum, Marina & Aquarium under Evaluation

21st March 2011, www.dailynews.lk, By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The Fisheries Ministry has been in contact with potential investors to start building the proposed boat complex in Beruwala and evaluating the proposals at present. This complex will be built at a substantial investment, housing a seven star hotel, museum, marina and an aquarium and many more.

This would be a tourist promotion venue where high spenders could be attracted, Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute Managing Director Gamini B Herath told Daily News Business.

The Galle Port development will attract small yachts and will bring in more business from yacht community. With the easing of global recession, there will be substantial growth in this industry.

Sri Lanka should be ready with these services to capture market opportunities where countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore looking at new destinations.

The local boat building industry has been recording regular growth since 2008 while 2010 was an exceptional year for the industry earning an export revenue of Rs 7 billion. As the industry is performing well at present it is estimated that the 2011 revenue would surpass the 2010 figure.

The industry is focusing on new markets and will be looking at countries in the Gulf region and Africa, especially Nigeria and Djibouti. These are lucrative markets and we are concentrating on capturing a bigger share, he said.

“We need to sustain the local boat building industry as it plays a vital role in revenue generation. The market situation is improving and we are confident that better performance in the industry could be seen in coming years,” Herath said.

The industry will also focus on providing human resource training to the personnel of the Dubai Boat building industry.

The recently held Dubai Boat Show was beneficial to Sri Lanka as the country showcased its capabilities at a national pavilion for the first time. There was a lot of enthusiasm among the potential buyers and they showed keenness to source from our country, he said.

“We have yet to estimate how much orders could be secured through this boat show and hopefully expect a positive outcome. A few reputed manufacturers in Dubai mainly interested in super mega yatchs have sought possibilities to train their personnel through Sri Lankan experts. This is a rewarding opportunity for the local boat building industry,” he said.

Related Info :

• Sri Lanka Boat Building Sets a Target of Rs 8bn

• Sri Lanka Stages Boat Show 2010. 24th to 26th April 2010 Event Brings Together Buyers, Manufacturers and Industry Experts

• UAE Sri Lanka Trade to Expand with Unconventional Products at Dubai International Boat Show & Gulfood 2011

• Sri Lanka Boatyard Solas Marine Delivers Trawler for Africa. Plans to Supply Patrol Boats to Indian Navy