45th AGM of Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka

The 45th Annual General Meeting of the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL) and the 32nd Annual General Meeting of the IATA Agents Association of Sri Lanka (IAASL) was held on September 19, at the Tangerine Beach Hotel, Kalutara. 183 participants attended this event. Channe Wijemanne, Director / CEO, George Steuarts Travels Ltd was re-elected as president of the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL) for the year 2020 /2021. Tilak Wickramasinghe, Managing Director of Skyways Travel Solutions (Pvt) Ltd was elected as the President of the IATA Agents Association of Sri Lanka (IAASL) for the year 2020 /2021.

Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga graced the occasion with his presence.During his speech, Wijemanne requested the Minister of Tourism to assist the industry on the requests made for financial assistance for the travel industry and moratorium and the working capital soft loan extensions. Further the Minister of Tourism reiterated that as discussed, positions would be given to TAASL & IAASL on the Management Committee of Airport and Aviation. Wijemanne thanked the Minister of Tourism profusely for giving the industry numerous opportunities to voice our grievances and wished him good luck in achieving his objectives and confirmed the industries fullest cooperation and support.

TAASL is the national travel agents body in the country, with representation on the governing boards of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourist Hotel Management (SLITHM), the Tourism Industry Skills Council and a member of the “One Industry One Voice” initiative.

It was founded on October 22, 1974 and is an approved association of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce representing the interest of 165 outbound travel agents in Sri Lanka. 

IATA Agents Association of Sri Lanka (IAASL) an affiliated association of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, which was formed in 1988 as a body to represent the interests of the Sri Lankan travel agencies accredited by the International Air Transport Association. At present the membership consists of over 145 travel agencies located throughout Sri Lanka.

The following Executive Council Members were elected at the TAASL Annual General Meeting:

Mr. Jude Condrad of Himpras Tours (Pvt) Ltd – Senior Vice President, Mr. Sabry Bahaudeen of Classic Travels (Pvt) Ltd – Junior Vice President, Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd – Mr. Nishantha Senaveratne, Alpha Travels & Holidays (Pvt) Ltd – Mr. Wilhelm E. Brown, BOC Travels (Pvt) Ltd – Mr. Romesh Samaranayake, Acorn Travels (Pvt) Ltd (Formally Hemas Travels (Pvt) Ltd) – Mr. Mohamed Hussain Abdul Habeeb, Intersun Travels (Pvt) Ltd – Mr. Suffian Mohideen, Lando Travels (Pvt) Ltd – Mr. Lawrence Fernando, Mackinnons Travels (Pvt) Ltd – Mr. Shamindra Fernando, Scenic Ventures (Pvt) Ltd – Mr. Rizwan Ramieze, Skyways – Mr. Tillak Wickremasinghe, Traveller Global Destinations & Leisure Holidays (Pvt) Ltd – Mr. Omar – Ul – Shibly Shamsudeen, Upul’s Travel Service (Pvt) Ltd – Mr. Kapilanath Kalapuge.

The following Executive Council Members were elected at the IAASL Annual General Meeting:

Mr. Janath Vidanage of Danata Travels & Tour (Pvt) Ltd – Vice President, Mr. Riza Ahamat – 02ND Chance Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Hussain Habeeb – Acorn Travels (Private) Limited, Mr. Wilhelm Brown – Alpha Travels & Holidays (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Romesh Samaranayake – B. O. C. Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Mohamed Sabry Bahaudeen – Classic Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Brighton Alexander – Ganlo Travel & Tours (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Mohamed Ziard Wahid – Golden International Travels & Tours (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Jude Condrad – Himpras Tours (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Lawrence Fernando – Lando Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Shaminda Fernando – Mackinnons Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Rizwan Rameize – Scenic Ventures (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Saman Premakumara – Travel World (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Rizmi Reyal – The Traveller Global (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Duminda Kuruwitaarachchi – Travel Outlook (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Kapilanath Kalapuge – Upuls Travel Service (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Nishantha Senaveratne will join the Executive Council in his capacity as the Immediate Past President.