Business
Vietnam lauded for its assistance to SL
The senior officials of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Viet Nam including both the Minister Counsellor, Mahesh Premathilaka, and Ambassador Prof A. Saj U. Mendis met with Tran Sy Thanh, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee and former Deputy Chairman of National Assembly of Viet Nam. The chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee is the apex and extremely influential body focused on the administration and management of the entire city of Hanoi consisting well over seven million residents.
Tran Sy Thanh too has been the Deputy Chairman of National Assembly Office, just before taking over as the Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee, which is constitutionally the highest Government organization as well as the highest-level representative body of the people of the entire country. The congenial and informative meeting with the Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee lasted well over an hour at the Head Office Ha Noi People’s Committee.
During the discussion, Ambassador Mendis commended the assistance and cooperation extended to Sri Lanka over the years as well as the support extended to Sri Lanka at a number of multilateral forums including the Human Rights Council. Further, Ambassador Mendis requested to facilitate visas, temporary resident cards and work permits for Sri Lankan expatriates since many of them are eager to live and work in Viet Nam, mostly in the high-skilled and professional disciplines. While Tran Sy Thanh and his delegation, consisting senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Culture and Tourism, agreed to look favorably on the aforementioned issues given the most affable and close relations of the two countries, Tran Sy Thanh also broached the idea of having an MoU between Ha Noi and a select major city in Sri Lanka such as Colombo or Kandy, thus further widening the relations in all aspects.
Both Tran Sy Thanh and Prof Mendis discussed and explored myriad of ways to further strengthen, deepen and elevate the relations between the two countries with particular focus on economic, investment and commercial activity. In this context, Tran Sy Thanh stated that direct connectivity between Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh city and Colombo would markedly and significantly increase not only the two-way tourism but also economic activity in all spheres and provinces. Prof Mendis stated that Viet Nam had over 13 million Vietnamese nationals travelling out of Viet Nam, mostly to ASEAN countries, Japan, China and South Korea as well as to other countries. He added if Sri Lanka could attract just a meager percentage of 0.2% of the Vietnamese overseas travelers, this figure would translate to 26,000. On the same note, Mendis stated that Sri Lanka has been chosen as amongst the five most desired and sought-after touristic destinations in 2018/2019, before the COVID pandemic, by well noted travel and tourism magazines as well as electronic media including but not limited to Lonely Planet, National Geographics, BBC Good Food and CNN.
Tran Sy Thanh too stated that the economic, investment and commercial potential the two countries have are yet to be exploited and unleashed. Further, both the Chairman and Ambassador added that Viet Nam has become a nation which attracts 8% of the GDP as foreign direct investments, which is one of the highest in any given nation, since Viet Nam received USD 21 billion in 2022 and anticipating USD 32 to 34 billion in 2023 respectively. With regard to trade, Viet Nam is one of the largest trading nations in the world ranked as the 15th largest with a bilateral trade of USD 732 billion last year. This includes imports amounting to over USD 350 billion. Mendis did highlight that the total bilateral trade between the two countries is in the vicinity of less than USD 300 million with a large trade deficit on Sri Lankan side. The chairman of Hanoi City, Tran Sy Thanh, stated that his office would efficaciously implement and address the propositions and ideas with the embassy of Sri Lanka in Hanoi, which were expressed by Prof Mendis.
Sri Lankan embassy in Vietnam
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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