The world’s largest travel site Tripadvisor has recognised Laksala with a 2014 Certificate of Excellence. This prestigious award is based on the excellent customer service, level of fulfilling their needs and the degree of satisfaction reviewed by customers who visited Laksala during the period under review.

Exactly 40 years ago on a day like today (8 May), I was over the moon enjoying the very first day of my entrance to the University of Ceylon Peradeniya. I still remember the day of my arrival with my parents at Peradeniya Sarasavi Uyana Railway Station, a reminiscent construction by colonial rule in Sri Lanka.

Continuing the vigorous campaign to promote Ceylon Tea in the United States, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington DC and the Sri Lanka Tea Board organised the Sri Lankan pavilion at the 2014 Summer Fancy Food Show, North America’s largest food and beverage fair, which was held from 29 June to 1 July at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York.

Surrounded by the whispers of rustling palms, near-virgin sands, the music of the waves, glorious pink and orange sunsets and undisturbed hours lies Vivanta by Taj Bentota, Sri Lanka, an exclusive beach and spa resort on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Previously, the Taj Exotica Bentota is now riding on a fresh new wave. Rebranded and launched as Vivanta by Taj Bentota, it envisages a new signature in hospitality. Why Vivanta? According to Taj group’s brand vision, Vivanta seeks to understand your aspirations & helps you create your own space, your own journey. Stylishly Spirited, Vivanta by Taj delivers premium hotel experiences with imagination, energy & efficiency.

IntelloCut, an enterprise material management system won the first prize at Venture Engine and is set to raise its next round of investment.

‘IntelloCut’ the flagship product developed by Threadsol Softwares Ltd., has won the Venture Engine Competition in Sri Lanka. IntelloCut emerged as the winner over multiple rounds of evaluation among over 100 entries from Sri Lanka and all over the world.

Q: You recently launched your biography titled ‘Triumph through Tragedy,’ outlining the challenges you have faced over the years. Could you tell us about your journey?

A: It is a story where I lost my husband when I was 25. He was an Army officer who was ambushed by the terrorists during the insurgency in 1971. My elder daughter was two-and-a-half years old and I was expecting my younger daughter.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa officially declared opened the oil tank farm at Hambantota port on June 22, Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) said in a statement.

The step by step process.

An equity market, commonly known as a stock market is identified as a key financial instrument that facilitates wealth creation, economic development and economic equality. Initiatives taken by market stake holders and satisfactory economic indicators had a positive impact towards the performance of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) .The All Share Price Index (ASPI) has recorded a growth of 17.4% while the S&P SL20 Index has grown by 16.9% in the current year.

• National Craft Council to stage Shilpa Udana National Crafts Festival 2014, themed ‘Sustaining Livelihoods and Encouraging Revival’

Home to a rich heritage of traditional arts and crafts, Sri Lanka has always given pride of place to the artisans and craftspeople of its heartland. Sri Lankan arts and crafts have been admired over the years internationally.

A 24 hour hotline will be launched at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) to provide information to the public about its services. This is the first 'Information Hub' to be launched in a state hospital in Sri Lanka, National Hospital Director Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

In view of the improved macroeconomic environment, greater stability in the external sector as well as the development of a more effective and comprehensive regulatory and surveillance framework, several Exchange Control Regulations have been liberalized over the past few years. In keeping with the above policy trend, a series of further relaxation measures as follows, will be implemented with effect from 28 May 2014. Such measures are also expected to further enhance the external competitiveness of Sri Lanka in the global market.

The origins of the Arcade Independence Square, initially built as the Cinnamon Gardens Asylum which later came to be known as the Jawatta Asylum and finally, the Colombo Asylum date back to Governor Gregory’s initiatives to build a state of the art landmark asylum in Ceylon in 1875. There were disagreements between the Superintendent of the asylum, Principal Civil Medical Officer, Governor, Colonial office, Lunacy Commission, Crown agents and the Commission appointed to review the plans for the asylum. Identifying an accessible site with adequate water supply and drainage, designing an asylum based on Western concepts for a tropical climate, designing clinical spaces for patients in a different culture, limiting the construction costs to the available funds and meeting expectations of different segments of the society posed formidable challenges.

Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts together with SriLankan Airlines and the Professional Travel Bloggers Association (PTBA) will be organising Asia’s first-ever Travel Bloggers Conference (TBC) from 14 to 18 November, to promote Sri Lanka to the forefront of tourist destinations among future holiday makers.

COLOMBO – July 9, 2014 - In keeping with the ever changing world of information technology and web development, Serendib Leisure is proud to announce the launch of its new website, www.serendibleisure.com. Featuring our four hotels, AVANI Bentota Resort & Spa, AVANI Kalutara Resort, Club Hotel Dolphin and Hotel Sigiriya, the website provides a portal to these properties each with their own signature location and distinct characteristics. A subsidiary of blue-chip conglomerate Hemas Holdings, Serendib Leisure offers idyllic escapes around Sri Lanka that let you truly get a feel of holidaying in an island paradise and experiencing a rich and exotic culture.

Now you could get on with your normal life routine without worry by having yourself enrolled in the best retirement plan in the country- BOC Abhimana.  The flexibility of options available through this scheme gives the opportunity to any Sri Lankan above the age of 18years to join it and reap the benefits. This would be an ideal retirement solution for Semi-Government, or private sector employees or self-employed persons to secure their future with a stable retirement scheme and experience a sense of confidence and pride without worrying about the future. This scheme is also open for retired persons and Non-resident Sri Lankans not only as a retirement scheme but also as an investment option. The Bank has made arrangements for the Private sector employers to contribute to Abhimana Pension scheme on behalf of their employees fully or jointly with the employee.