Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) Opens 6th Branch Office in Anuradhapura, North Central Sri Lanka

29th March 2013, www.island.lk

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) opened its 6th Branch Office in Anuradhapura on the 28th of March 2013. The Branch is situated on the 2nd Floor, 488/8/2 Town Hall Place, Maithripala Senanayake Mawatha, Anuradhapura.

The Branch will provide investors from the North Central Province, education and investment opportunities in shares and corporate debt listed on the CSE. The Branch will conduct educational programmes and exhibitions for students from schools and higher educational institutions in the Province.

The CSE Branch Network commenced in 1999, with the opening of the Branch in Matara. This was followed by Branch Offices in Kandy (2003), Kurunegala (2005), Negombo (2007), Jaffna (2010) to Anuradhapura (2013).

The CSE Branches will continue to offer greater accessibility, education and awareness on investing in listed shares and corporate debt for the benefit of retail investors in the Provinces.

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SriLankan AirTaxi Flies to Anuradhapura. Daily Flights to Mahawilachchiya Tank from February 4 to 11 Provides Fast Aceess to Deyata Kirula Exhibition

03rd February 2012, www.dailynews.lk

SriLankan Air Taxi will operate daily scheduled flights to Mahawilachchiya Tank, Anuradhapura from February 4 to 11, 2012, providing fast and comfortable transfers to the exhibition venue of Deyata Kirula.

These special flights are in response to the strong demand for domestic travel within the country and in support of the government showcasing a series of development projects through this exhibition.

So far SriLankan Airlines has carried domestic travellers to 14 domestic tourist destinations and Mahawilachchiya will be added to its network as the 15th destination. The scheduled flights will depart from Peliyagoda pier and arrive in Mahavilachchiya daily, between February 4 to 11.

SriLankan will operate air taxi scenic flights in Anuradhapura for residents and visitors to the exhibition. For flight information and reservations, call Customer Service hotline 1979.

SriLankan Air Taxi, currently operates to popular tourist destinations; Bentota, Koggala, Dikwella, Dambulla, Kandy, (Polgolla and Victoria) Nuwara Eliya, Hambantota, Tissamaharama, Castlereagh, Arugam Bay, Ampara and Iranamadu either as scheduled flights or charters.

Air Taxi transfers passengers from Colombo to any point in its route network within half an hour to one hour, and is now one of the quickest methods of travel from Colombo to any part of the country. Charter flights are also offered to all Air Taxi destinations.

SriLankan Airlines will expand its Air Taxi operations to more destinations within the country, to ensure smooth and seamless transfers, especially for the increasing number of foreign visitors to the country.

 SriLankan Airlines AirTaxi Route Map in Sri Lanka:

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Finco to Construct 3 Additional Hotels at Rs 2.2bn Investment that Couples Extensive Use of Solar Power

29th July 2011, www.dailynews.lk, By Shirajiv Sirimane

Uga Resorts (Pvt) Ltd, a fully-owned subsidiary of the Finco Group of companies will invest a further Rs 2. 2 billion to construct three additional hotels. Finco Vice President Priyanjith Weerasooria said in addition they have already invested Rs 800 million for their first boutique property investment, Ulagalla Resort, in Thirappane, Anuradhapura.

He said they acquired a property belonging to Associated Developers in Pasikudah three months ago to construct a luxury resort in the Tourism zone next to Malu Malu.

“In addition we have also leased a property in Kuchchaveli for another luxury hotel.”

Both projects are scheduled to be completed by mid 2012.

The company is also looking to build a 30-room property in the South.

He said that out of the investment 75 percent would be equity and 25 percent from borrowings.

They are looking at the niche market and hope to market the rooms for over US $ 325. “We are looking at the US, Canada, India, UK, and Chinese markets,” he said.

Uga Resorts Head of Marketing Subandu Perera said they paid emphasis in developing eco-friendly resorts, and intends on positioning itself in the ‘Luxury’ segment.

Ulagalla Resort, the first luxury hotel in Anuradhapura consists of 20 artistically designed luxurious Chalets scattered over an unrestricted area of 58 acres.

This was opened one year ago. “In keeping with our “Go Green” concept, 50% of the energy requirement of the resort is generated through solar power; the resort has the largest solar farm in the country with a capacity of 125 KVA and is proud to be the only supplier of Solar Energy to the National Power Grid,” he said. The concept of ‘Jungle Beach Resort’ in Pasikudah the first hotel in the zone is to create an experience of both jungle and beach in one location.

Finco Group is one of Sri Lanka’s leading private sector organizations with a solid business reputation and sound financial standing.

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Sri Lanka Air Force Helitours Air Service Launched under Discover Serendipity Theme

19th July 2010, www.island.lk, By Dasun Edirisinghe

Sri Lanka Air Force will re-launch its domestic air service ‘Helitours’ today (19) at No. 395, Galle Road, Colombo 03 (Colpetty).

Helitours flies under the theme "Discover Serendipity" rebranded with a new-look and state-of-the-art office in the city.

"State-of-the- art office space is not the only new feature of Helitours. For the first time in domestic aviation history, helicopters will be used to introduce scheduled flights, creating another milestone for the SLAF," said Group Captain Janaka Nanayakkara, the SLAF spokesman.

He told The Island Financial Review that the move is aimed at catering to the growing demand and the convenience of the clientele, while simultaneously taking domestic air travel to new heights.

He said that the Helitours fleet boasts of more than twenty fixed wing aircraft and helicopters including Bell-206, also known as the Jet Ranger, Bell- 212, Bell- 412 and Mi-17.

The seating capacity of the Jet Ranger is 04 while the Bell- 212 and Bell- 412 can accommodate 08 persons, Nanayakkara said adding the Mi-17 being the largest helicopter in the Helitours fleet has seating capacity of 20.

The SLAF owned aircrafts AN 32 B and Y-12 are also use for Helitorus and the aircrafts have 45 and 15 seating capacity respectively.

Nanayakkara said: Since the dawn of peace, Helitours has expanded their services, bringing new destination routes under its wings. Scheduled flights to three new routes of Batticaloa, Ampara and Anuradhapura operate from Ratmalana Air Force base every Tuesday. In addition, Helitours continues to fly to Palaly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while the flights to China Bay in Trincomalee are on Monday and Friday.

He said that their aim is to offer an aircraft for the general public at lowest cost and all revenues would go to the Treasury.

Helitours offers both scheduled flights and chartered flights to and from any part of Sri Lanka including city to airport transfers since its inception in 1972. The brainchild of Air Marshal Paddy Mendis, Helitours was incorporated as a strategic business unit of SLAF to meet the needs of aviation and tourism in Sri Lanka.

More info: Sri lanka Air Force Helitours