Honeymoon over for Sri Lanka tourism?

World’s leading tour operator Kuoni’s most recommended wedding destination for couples slaps biz visa requirement; more paper work and official-level certifications
For several years Sri Lanka has been the most recommended wedding destination for couples by world’s leading tour operator Kuoni, bringing high-end tourists and valuable foreign exchange earnings for the tourism sector.  However, Sri Lanka appears to have stopped playing the cupid’s role, threatening the future of this important segment of tourism.
The travel and leisure industry is furious over new rules imposed for foreign couples wanting to get married in Sri Lanka. For example, couples in the UK (the most popular source market for weddings and honeymoons in Sri Lanka) are required to obtain business visa instead of tourist as previously followed. There is more documentation in addition to validation requirement as well.

Kuoni’s Top 10 Wedding destinations-Sri Lanka is Number 1

Kuoni’s web site promoting Sri Lanka as the
number one wedding destination.

Kuoni’s Top 10 Wedding destinations

Sri Lanka
Mauritius
Caribbean
Thailand
Bali
Hawaii
Las Vegas
New York
Kenya
Italy

ICT super highway empowers Colombo-Katunayake Expressway

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) said yesterday it has been chosen to provide consultancy services as well as oversee and inspect the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway (CKE) project’s communication infrastructure and issue an independent certification for fibre optic installation to assure its capacity to handle many terabytes per second along the 25.8 km long Expressway.
This has been awarded to SLT after the company successfully completed the laying of 117 km of optical fibre cable along the Southern Expressway to facilitate the information superhighway of the country.
This new Colombo-Katunayake Highway, which starts from the New Kelani Bridge, leads to the access road of the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, and the travel time from Colombo to Katunayake is expected to be reduced to 20 minutes.

Anti-NSA protest calls for end to US spying

WASHINGTON, October 26, 2013 (AFP) - Several thousand protesters gathered Saturday in Washington to demand a new American law limiting the National Security Agency's surveillance programs seen as encroaching on private life.

The protest comes amid a widening scandal revealing sweeping US surveillance on the communications of ordinary citizens and global leaders that has sparked outrage worldwide.

Miss Universe apologises to India over Taj photoshoot

NEW DELHI, October 11, 2013 (AFP) - Organisers of Miss Universe extended their "deepest apologies" to India over a photo shoot at the Taj Mahal that triggered a police case and accusations that she disrespected the famed monument to love.

Reigning Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, a 21-year-old American from Rhode Island, visited the Islamic mausoleum on Sunday during a 10-day tour of India.

LAUGFS unveils NFC enabled fuel card powered by Dialog

Bringing latest technology to your nearest fuel station, LAUGFS Petroleum Limited, a subsidiary of LAUGFS Holdings Limited, together with Dialog Axiata PLC.,  recently introduced  the country’s first ever Near Field Communication(NFC) fuel card enabling  corporates  to bring down their transport costs  by replacing  traditional fuel  books  used by them when buying fuel.