Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, To begin with, I feel so honoured and privileged to be in this wonderful capital and largest city of Switzerland on behalf of my delegation. It is a great pleasure for me to address the 148th IPU Assembly...
Sri Lanka is deeply troubled about the death of over hundred people who were waiting to receive aid in Gaza and joins the call for investigation into the incident. The latest incident underscores the immediate need to end the blockade imposed on Gaza,...
Attending the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2024 in Davos, Switzerland at the invitation of its Founder and Chairman Prof. Klaus Schwab, President Ranil Wickremesinghe interacted with world...
Eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions 11 – 14 September 2023 Statement by Sri Lanka Agenda Item 8: General Exchange of Views Thank you Mr. President, Sri Lanka joins...
General Intervention by H.E. Himalee Arunatilaka, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, on 28 August 2023 Mr. Chair, Sri Lanka compliments the work accomplished...
Intervention by Dr. Samiddhi Samarakoon, National Coordinator, Disaster Preparedness and Response Division of the Ministry of Health on National Inventory of Dangerous Pathogens (NIDP) Thank you...
Intervention by Dr. Samiddhi Samarakoon, National Coordinator, Disaster Preparedness and Response Division of the Ministry of Health on the Implementation of Biological Weapons Convention Plan in...
NOTICE
Launching website of the new visa system from 16 April 2024.
The previous online visa website (Electronic Travel Authorization-ETA) has expired since 16 April 2024.
Please use the following link to apply for ETA from 17 April 2024 onwards.
Gaining economic momentum after the end of the terrorist conflict, Sri Lanka made another first by welcoming 1,000,000 tourist for 2012 at its Bandaranaike International Airport last night.
Exceeding its tourist arrival target for 2012, it appears that more and more travellers from around the world are being drawn to the tropical paradise, which was ranked as Lonely Planet’s number one country to visit in 2013.
Arriving in Sri Lanka, Ms. Jiang Ying, the one millionth tourist for 2012, sampled some renowned Sri Lankan hospitality, being greeted by the country’s Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene, the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism, Mr. Bhashwara Gunaratne and other Tourism officials.
A surprised Ms Ying, who arrived with her husband, explained that she had been bewitched by the pictures she saw of the country and details she received from her friends, which convinced her to finally make the trip. She added that ‘ Moreover, Sri Lankans are very hospitable and kind.’
The tourist boom is estimated to have exceeded US $ 1 billion in revenue, but this accomplishment hasn’t slowed the country down. Sri Lanka hopes to go further in 2013, by achieving a target of 1.3 million tourist arrivals.