President Maithripala Sirisena, who arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, yesterday (13)on a four-day Official Visit to Kenya to attend the fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) held in Nairobi, received a grand welcome at the Airport.
The President including the Sri Lankan delegation was warmly received by a Kenyan special delegation.
The Chief Administrative Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, Ababu Namwamba, the Cabinet Secretary and the Kenyan Minister of Water & Sanitation Simon Kiprono Chelugui and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Kenya Sunil de Silva and others were participated on this occasion.
The President participates in this Assembly on an invitation extended by the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta.
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Kenya Sunil de Silva pointed out that as the Minister of Environment in Sri Lanka and as a leader who took many important decisions towards protecting the environment, the President‟s participation in this conference is significant.
The fourth session of the UN Environment Assembly will be held under the theme „Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production‟.
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron and other dignitaries will attend the Conference.
The Sri Lankan Government does not agree in full with the latest report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Foreign Affairs Minister Thilak Marapana told Parliament yesterday.
The minister, responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that the Government would express its observations on the report of the OHCHR when it is taken up for debate on March 20 in Geneva.
“The draft Resolution before the UNHRC and the report of the OHCHR are two different things. Do not mix up the two,” he said.
“We do not endorse everything stated in the OHCHR report. For example, it says the Government has not returned the North and East lands used by the military. About 90 percent of those lands have been returned to the original occupants. Likewise, it contains several points that we cannot agree. We can raise those concerns,” he said.
The minister explained that the draft Resolution before the UNHRC is to get another two years‟ time to complete the undertakings mentioned in the 30/1 UNHRC Resolution passed in 2015.
“This is as same as the 2017 UNHRC Resolution where we extended the time till 2019. The wording of the Resolution is the same, the only difference is that we have added the progress achieved during the past two years into it,” Marapana said.
Minister Marapana observed that the Government through the 2015 UNHRC resolution reinforced the independence and sovereignty of the country and paved the way to resolve the country‟s problems through a domestic mechanism.
“The Government has never done anything detrimental to the country, the Tri-Forces and the people. We have never passed any law detrimental to the fundamental rights of the citizens. We could regain the international reputation of the country and thereby lay the foundation for long term economic development in cooperation
DNC Daily News 15/03/2019
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Public Communications Division
with the European Union, Millennium Challenge Corporation and all other developed countries. We could send our armed forces to the UN Peace Keeping Missions and to internationally-recognized foreign training programmes. Several countries came forward to donate vessels to strengthen the Navy fleet. Prior to 2015, we did not have such opportunities,” he commented.
“We could ensure the people‟s human rights and rule of law in the country. In that way we could uphold the dignity of the citizens and the tri-forces. The Government is further committed to achieve reconciliation and development to usher in a prosperous future to all citizens,” he added.
Marapana also observed that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa through the 2009 UNHRC Resolution agreed to find a political solution to the national question by implementing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. He added that the joint statement by Rajapaksa and former UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon in May 2009 agreed on several measures to achieve reconciliation and these were also included into the 2009 UNHRC resolution.
“The subsequent UNHRC Resolutions against Sri Lanka in 2012, 2013 and 2014 were due to the Government‟s failure to keep to those undertakings and non-implementation of the LLRC recommendations. As a result of the international inquiry in 2014, the international community was to impose economic sanctions and take various other adverse international steps against Sri Lanka in 2015, but we could avoid those adverse impacts after the Presidential Elections as we undertook to ensure human rights of the people through a domestic mechanism,” he explained.
Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa raising a question under the Standing Order 27 (2) asked the Government to withdraw from the 30/1 UNHRC Resolution which Sri Lanka co-sponsored in 2015. He observed that the President and the Prime Minister have contradictory positions with regard to the UNHRC. He claimed that the new Resolution to be adopted binds Sri Lanka to continue the undertakings in the 2015 Resolution which was prepared based on false information in the Darusman report.
The former President said that his stance was that there were zero casualties by Sri Lankan armed forces during the war. He said that British Parliamentarian Lord Naseby has also countered false information on the human causalities in the last stages of the war. Accusing that the report before the UNHRC is an attempt of international intervention belittling the judicial system of Sri Lanka, he urged the Government to take prompt action to stop it.
Sri Lanka and Kenya agreed to formalize political consultations between the two Foreign Ministries, which would provide a framework for discussing new areas of cooperation. This follows a meeting in Colombo between Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya Monica Juma on Friday 8th March at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo. Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana highlighted the importance of identifying priority areas so that discussions can be focused, sustainable and targeted at achieving specific objectives.
Noting that Kenya could provide a gateway for Sri Lanka to access the larger African market, the Kenyan Minister invited Sri Lanka to invest in Kenya. Minister Marapana noted the importance of re-activating the Joint Trade Committee between Sri Lanka and Kenya which could pave the way for greater economic and trade relations. Sri Lanka emphasized its increased focus on Africa and the continent’s untapped potential. The two countries committed to consolidate the longstanding relations that go back to 1970, with political consultations and renewed economic cooperation.
Cabinet Secretary Juma added that her country looked forward to welcoming President Maithripala Sirisena in Nairobi this week, for participation in the 4th UN Environmental Assembly.
The two Ministers and discussed specific areas that could contribute towards optimizing the bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of the two countries. Recalling their meeting in Nairobi when Foreign Minister Marapana visited Kenya in June 2018, the two Ministers reiterated agriculture, sports, agro forestry, textiles and manufacturing as some of the key areas which could greatly contribute towards enhanced bilateral cooperation.
The Kenyan side expressed interest in possible research collaboration on rice and exchange of experience and technical expertise in value addition on tea and coconut. Kenya was further interested to learn from the Sri Lankan experience in textile manufacturing. Sri Lanka conveyed its interest to learn from Kenya’s best practices in agroforestry and possible research collaboration, particularly through the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) which is headquartered in Nairobi.
Discussing multilateral cooperation, the two Ministers agreed to collaborate in combatting terrorism, address the challenges of transnational crime, the importance of its littoral countries addressing the issues concerning the Indian Ocean, and wider South-South cooperation. It was further underlined that air connectivity was an important factor in promoting more people-to-people links and promoting tourism. Both sides agreed that the Indian Ocean is a connector and a common heritage, and it was upto the littoral countries to negotiate collectively on preserving its independence and the sustainable use of its rich marine resources.
Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ravinatha Aryasinha, Additional Secretary (Bilateral) Sumith Nakandala and Director General of the Africa Affairs Division Himalee Arunatilaka were associated with Minister Marapana at the meeting. Cabinet Secretary Juma was accompanied by senior officials of the Kenyan Ministry’s Asia Affairs Division.
Four Sri Lankan Tea companies i.e Damro, Halpe, Samly, Ceylon Fresh Tea, jointly with Ceylon Tea Board and the Embassy of Sri Lanka participated at the World Food International Food and Drinks Exhibition 2019, held at Warsaw Convention Centre from 06 -09 March 2019.
Warsaw World food is one of the largest Food trade fairs held annually in Poland and on the occasion there are around 300 exhibiting companies present a wide range of products across all areas – from alcoholic and non – alcoholic beverages to frozen food, canned goods, fresh products, sweets and pastries, food additives, food supplements, organic products and baby food.
Topics such as IT, transport and logistic as well as food processing equipment and cold chain management are also part of the event. In addition to the presentation of goods, the trade fair mainly serves as a platform to conduct business with numerous specialist buyers operating in the Eastern European market and to acquire knowledge or exchange experiences in conferences and workshops with influential industry experts. In order to enable exhibitors to meet buyers, distributors and retail representatives of their choice, or to provide high –level buyers with amenities during their stay and advantages in choosing their appropriate dialogue partners, there is a possibility to participate in the Business Matchmaking of VIP Buyer programme, respectively.
Therefore Sri Lankan Embassy in Warsaw encourages more participation from Sri Lankan companies at the fair in the future. The World Food Poland takes place annually and therefore for the 7th time in March 2020 in Warsaw.
Damro Tea (PVT) Ltd won the Gold medal award for the best drinking sector at the fair.
Sri Lankan pavilion was ceremonially opened by HE Mr CAHM Wijeratne, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Poland. Traditional oil lamp was lit by the Ambassador and other representatives including the representatives of Sri Lankan companies.
On March 7, 2019 Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Poland Mr. CAHM Wijeratne accompanied by Dr. RMI Udaya Kumara, Minister Counsellor paid a visit to Prof. Maciej Chorowski, Director of the Polish National Centre for Research and Development.
The Polish Institute for Research and Development (PIBiR) is the Executive Agency of the Minister of Science and Higher Education. The Institution was established with one purpose in mind, to transform the world by making new innovative technologies a commercial success story. To do this, the Institution aims to transform Poland into a powerful source of highly specialized commercial oriented knowledge and skills. It seek out world class scientific talents in Poland and the European Union and nurture them until their ideas become a viable commercial reality. They also recruit the best talents making Poland as first and best stop on the road to global success. They have close work relations with companies, mentors, and think tanks around the world – ensuring their next step will lead them to Poland.
The institution has completed 54 programmes in 2018. They spent 1.16 bn Euro) annually to support Research and Development activities. The institution has also established bilateral cooperation by entering into Agreements with Singapore, Taiwan, Israel, South Africa, and EU Member Countries. The Universities, Enterprises, Consortia, Research Institutes, Foundations/ Associations are the beneficiaries of the Institution.
The Ambassador discussed with the Director the modalities of establishing collaboration with the interested institutions in Sri Lanka. The Director has agreed to share his experiences with Sri Lankan authorities.
Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to advance and broaden the scope of the bilateral engagement with Cyprus, when he met the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Christodoulides for discussions last week. This was the first official visit to Cyprus undertaken by a Sri Lankan Foreign Minister since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1963.
During the visit, he called on H.E. Nicos Anastasiades, President of the Republic of Cyprus, and met with the Minister of Labour, Welfare, and Social Insurance Zeta Emilianidou. Foreign Ministers Marapana and Christodoulides together, inaugurated the office of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Nicosia at a formal ceremony on 28 February 2019.
The discussions between Minister Marapana and his Cypriot counterpart Christodoulides reviewed ongoing bilateral activities with a special focus on increasing cooperation in the labour, tourism, education and agriculture sectors, including SMEs development. Foreign Minister Christodoulides assured Minister Marapana that the Government of Cyprus was ready to address and resolve key outstanding matters related to Sri Lankan workers employed in Cyprus. Both sides welcomed the proposal to convene political consultations in January 2020 to review progress in the agreed areas of enhanced cooperation.
Reiterating Sri Lanka’s support for the unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, the Sri Lankan foreign Minister extended an invitation to Minister Christodoulides to visit Sri Lanka at the earliest opportunity.
Meeting with Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou, Minister Marapana appreciated and recalled that Cyprus has been a valuable foreign employment destination for Sri Lankans in the last 40 years. Two important matters highlighted by the Minister were appropriate salary increase for all Sri Lankan employees and payment of social insurance/pensions for short term contractual workers. Labour Minister Emilianidou assured Minister Marapana that the Government of Cyprus would positively address both matters, including greater opportunities for skilled Sri Lankans in the hospitality, agriculture and IT sectors. Both sides agreed to revise the draft Agreement between Sri Lanka and Cyprus in the Field of Employment of Sri Lankan Manpower to reflect the above key elements.
Speaking at the ceremonial opening of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Nicosia, Minister Marapana, while appreciating the invaluable contribution being made by Sri Lankan employees to the national economy, underlined that the Consulate was established to honour and address a long felt need in the Sri Lankan working community for such an office in Cyprus, and equally important, in recognition of Sri Lanka’s longstanding bilateral engagement and friendship with Cyprus. The opening event was attended by members of the Sri Lankan expatriate working community, the Diplomatic Corps and representatives of the Cypriot media, civil and business communities.
The visit included a familiarization tour of the Alion Farm specialising in the export of value added agricultural produce. Responding to the Minister’s request for employment opportunities for skilled Sri Lankan graduates of agriculture and investing in a similar export venture in Sri Lanka, Alion CEO Theodoros Zavos assured that they would positively consider providing such gainful job opportunities for Sri Lankan personnel at their enterprise, and undertake a study tour to Sri Lanka to explore setting up a similar state -of -the -art facility for agricultural value addition and export.
Minister Marapana also visited the burial place of Archbishop Makarios III, who as the first President of the Republic of Cyprus, had visited Sri Lanka in 1976 for the Fifth Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Colombo. The Minister also met and interacted with Sri Lankan expatriate workers living in Kykkos in Troodors City.
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Cyprus resident in Rome Daya Pelpola, Resident Consul General Rohana Ambagolla along with Director General Dhammika Semasinghe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were associated with the visit and the bilateral discussions held.
இலங்கை – சைப்ரஸ்ஆகியநாடுகளுக்கிடையிலானஇருதரப்புஈடுபாட்டினைஒருங்கிணைப்பதற்குவெளிநாட்டுஅலுவல்கள்அமைச்சர்மாரப்பனமீளஉறுதிப்படுத்தியதுடன், இலங்கைக்கானதுணைத்தூதரகத்தினைநிகோசியாவில்அங்குரார்ப்பணம்செய்துவைத்தார்
சைப்ரஸின் வெளிநாட்டு அலுவல்கள் அமைச்சர் நிகோஸ் கிறிஸ்டோடொலிடஸ் அவர்களை கடந்த வாரம் கலந்துரையாடல்களின் போது சந்தித்த வெளிநாட்டு அலுவல்கள் அமைச்சர் திலக் மாரப்பன அவர்கள், சைப்ரஸ் உடனான இருதரப்பு பிணைப்புக்களை மேம்படுத்துவதற்கும், வலுப்படுத்துவதற்குமான ஈடுபாடுகள் குறித்து மீள உறுதிப்படுத்தினார். 1963ஆம் ஆண்டிலிருந்து இராஜதந்திர உறவுகள் ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்டது முதல் இலங்கையின் வெளிநாட்டு அலுவல்கள் அமைச்சர் ஒருவர் சைப்ரஸ் நாட்டிற்கு அரசுமுறை விஜயமொன்றை மேற்கொண்ட முதலாவது சந்தர்ப்பம் இதுவாகும்.
இந்த விஜயத்தின் போது, சைப்ரஸ் குடியரசின் ஜனாதிபதி அதி மேதகு நிகோஸ் அனஸ்டன்சியாடெஸ் அவர்களை சந்தித்ததுடன், தொழில், நலன்புரி மற்றும் சமூக காப்புறுதி அமைச்சர் சீடா எமிலியானிடோ அவர்களையும் சந்தித்தார். வெளிநாட்டு அலுவல்கள் அமைச்சர்களான மாரப்பன மற்றும் கிறிஸ்டோடொலிடஸ் ஆகியோர் 2019 பெப்ரவரி 28ஆந் திகதி நடைபெற்ற உத்தியோகபூர்வ நிகழ்வொன்றில் இலங்கைக்கான துணைத் தூதரகத்தினை நிகோசியாவில் அங்குரார்ப்பணம் செய்து வைத்தனர்.
தொழில், சுற்றுலா, கல்வி மற்றும் விவசாயத் துறைகளில் சிறிய மற்றும் நடுத்தர அளவிலான நிறுவன முயற்சிகள் அபிவிருத்தி உள்ளடங்கலான ஒத்துழைப்புக்களை அதிகரிப்பது குறித்து அமைச்சர் மாரப்பன அவர்களும், சைப்ரஸ் அமைச்சர் கிறிஸ்டோடொலிடஸ் அவர்களும் கலந்துரையாடல்களில் ஈடுபட்டனர். சைப்ரஸில் பணி புரியும் இலங்கை ஊழியர்கள் தொடர்பான பிரதான விடயங்கள் குறித்து கலந்துரையாடி, தீர்வு காண்பதற்கு சைப்ரஸ் அரசாங்கம் தயாராக இருப்பதாக வெளிநாட்டு அலுவல்கள் அமைச்சர் கிறிஸ்டோடொலிடஸ் அவர்கள் அமைச்சர் மாரப்பனவிற்கு உறுதியளித்தார். மேம்படுத்தப்பட்ட ஒத்துழைப்பு தொடர்பாக உடன்பட்ட விடயங்களில் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ள அபிவிருத்திகளை மீளாய்வு செய்து கொள்வதற்காக 2020 ஜனவரி மாதத்தில் அரசியல் ஆலோசனைகளை கூட்டுவதற்கான பிரேரணையை இரண்டு தரப்பு நாடுகளும் வரவேற்றன.
சைப்ரஸ் குடியரசின் ஒற்றுமை மற்றும் ஆள்புல ஒருங்கிணைப்பு ஆகியவற்றுக்கு ஆதரவு அளிக்கும் வகையில், ஆரம்ப சந்தர்ப்பத்திலேயே இலங்கைக்கான விஜயமொன்றை மேற்கொள்வதற்கான அழைப்பை அமைச்சர் கிறிஸ்டோடொலிடஸ் அவர்களுக்கு இலங்கையின் வெளிநாட்டு அலுவல்கள் அமைச்சர் விடுத்தார்.
தொழில், நலன்புரி மற்றும் சமூக காப்புறுதி அமைச்சர் சீடா எமிலியானிடோ அவர்களுடனான சந்திப்பின் போது, கடந்த 40 ஆண்டுகளாக இலங்கையர்களுக்கான விலைமதிப்பு மிக்க வெளிநாட்டு வேலைவாய்ப்பு தளமாக சைப்ரஸ் அமைவதனை நினைவு கூர்ந்து, அதற்கு தனது பாராட்டுக்களை தெரிவித்துக் கொண்டார். அனைத்து இலங்கை ஊழியர்களுக்குமான சம்பள அதிகரிப்பு மற்றும் குறுகிய கால ஒப்பந்த அடிப்படையிலான ஊழியர்களுக்கான காப்புறுதி / ஓய்வூதியங்களை செலுத்துதல் ஆகியன அமைச்சரினால் இதன்போது சுட்டிக்காட்டப்பட்டிருந்த இரண்டு முக்கியமான விடயங்களாகும். சுற்றுலா துறை, விவசாயம் மற்றும் தகவல் தொழினுட்பம் ஆகிய துறைகளில் ஆற்றலுள்ள இலங்கையர்களை இணைப்பதற்கான பாரிய சந்தர்ப்பங்கள் உள்ளடங்கலாக குறித்த இரண்டு விடயங்களையும் சாதகமான வகையில் சைப்ரஸ் அரசாங்கம் கையாளும் என தொழில் அமைச்சர் எமிலியானிடோ அவர்கள் அமைச்சர் மாரப்பன அவர்களுக்கு உறுதிப்படுத்தினார். இலங்கைமனிதவளத்துறையிலானஇலங்கைக்கும், சைப்ரஸிற்கும்இடையிலானஉடன்படிக்கையின் வரைவை, அதிலுள்ள பிரதான அம்சங்களை பிரதிபலிப்பதற்காக இரண்டு தரப்பினர்களும் ஏற்றுக் கொண்டனர்.
இலங்கைக்கான துணைத் தூதரகத்தினை நிகோசியாவில் அங்குரார்ப்பணம் செய்து வைக்கும் சம்பிரதாயபூர்வமான நிகழ்வில் உரையாற்றுகையில், தேசிய பொருளாதாரத்திற்கு இலங்கை ஊழியர்களால் வழங்கப்படும் விலைமதிப்பற்ற பங்களிப்பினை பாராட்டிய அதே வேளை, சைப்ரஸில் குறித்த அலுவலகத்தினை கொண்டிருப்பதற்கான இலங்கை தொழில் சமூகத்தின் நீண்டகால தேவைப்பாட்டினை பூர்த்தி செய்வதற்காகவும், அதற்கு இணையாக சைப்ரஸூடனான இலங்கையின் நீண்டகால இருதரப்பு ஈடுபாடு மற்றும் நட்புறவு ஆகியவற்றிற்காகவும் குறித்த துணைத்தூதரகம் நிறுவப்பட்டுள்ளதாக அமைச்சர் மாரப்பன குறிப்பிட்டார். இலங்கையிலிருந்து இடம்பெயர்ந்து தொழிலில் ஈடுபடும் இலங்கைச் சமூகத்தினர், இராஜதந்திரிகள் மற்றும் சைப்ரஸின் ஊடக, சிவில் மற்றும் வியாபார சமூகத்தினரின் பங்குபற்றுதலுடன் இந்த அங்குரார்ப்பண நிகழ்வு இடம்பெற்றிருந்தது.
பெறுமதி உட்சேர்க்கப்பட்ட விவசாய உற்பத்தியின் ஏற்றுமதியினை விஷேடத்துவப்படுத்தும் ஏலியன் பண்ணைக்கான சுற்றுப்பயணத்தினை உள்ளடக்கிய விஜயமாக இது அமைந்திருந்தது. ஆற்றலுள்ள விவசாயத்துறை பட்டதாரிகளுக்கான தொழில் வாய்ப்புக்கள் தொடர்பான அமைச்சரின் கோரிக்கைக்கு பிரதிபலிக்கும் முகமாக, தமது நிறுவனத்தில் இலங்கையர்களுக்கான அத்தகைய தொழில் வாய்ப்புக்களை வழங்குவது தொடர்பில் சாதகமாக கவனம் செலுத்துவதாகவும், ஒரே மாதிரியான வசதிகளையுடைய விவசாய பெறுமதி உட்சேர்ப்பு மற்றும் ஏற்றுமதியினை அமைப்பதற்கான வழிமுறைகளை கண்டறிவதற்காக, இலங்கைக்கான கற்கை சுற்றுப்பயணமொன்றை மேற்கொள்வதற்காகவும் ஏலியனின் பிரதான நிறைவேற்று உத்தியோகத்தர் தியோடொரஸ் ஸாவொஸ் வாக்குறுதியளித்தார்.
சைப்ரஸ் குடியரசின் முதலாவது ஜனாதிபதியாக, கொழும்பில் இடம்பெற்ற அணிசேரா நாடுகளின் ஐந்தாவது மாநாட்டில் கலந்து கொள்வதற்காக 1976ஆம் ஆண்டில் இலங்கைக்கு விஜயம் செய்திருந்த பேராயர் மாகாரியஸ் III அவர்கள் அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ள இடத்திற்கும் அமைச்சர் மாரப்பன விஜயம் செய்தார். ட்ரூடோர்ஸ் நகரிலுள்ள கைக்கோஸில் வசிக்கும் இலங்கையிலிருந்து இடம்பெயர்ந்துள்ள தொழிலாளர்களை சந்தித்த அமைச்சர், அவர்களுடன் கலந்துரையாடல்களில் ஈடுபட்டார்.
ரோமிலுள்ள சைப்ரஸிற்கான இலங்கைத் தூதுவர் தயா பெல்பொல, வதிவிட கொன்சுல் நாயகம் ரோஹன அம்பகொல்ல மற்றும் வெளிநாட்டு அலுவல்கள் அமைச்சின் பணிப்பாளர் நாயகம் தம்மிக்கா சேமசிங்க ஆகியோர் இந்த விஜயத்திலும், இருதரப்பு கலந்துரையாடல்களின் போதும் இடம்பெற்றிருந்தனர்.
With its eyes on the tourist market, the Polish carrier will offer the service from November 3 to March 28.
The nine-hour flights on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be available three times a week.
LOT carried over 8.9 million passengers last year, 2 million more than in 2017, according to Polish Radio’s IAR news agency.
This year, the airline is eyeing a record 10 million passengers, IAR added.
From this fall, LOT will fly from Warsaw to Colombo in Sri Lanka. Cruises will be seasonally serviced from November 3 to March 28 three times a week with modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Colombo is already the seventh Asian long-distance direction in the growing grid of the Polish carrier and the first regular connection opened for tourists seeking a winter exotic vacation. Tickets are now available for sale.
Boeing 787-9 LOT Dreamliner will support the connection between Warsaw and Colombo in the winter season. The first cruise is scheduled for November 3 this year. The merger will be implemented until March 28, 2020 three times a week, according to the following schedule:
LO 070 CMB-WAW 07: 35-13: 30 Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays
In this way, LOT will guarantee the shortest travel to Sri Lanka to passengers from Poland, but also from many other European countries.
Tourists choose Asia
– We decided to start a regular connection to Sri Lanka due to the very large tourist potential of this direction. Annually, more than 1.8 million people travel between Europe and Colombo. The convenient schedule guarantees passengers from all LOT cities serviced in Poland, Western Europe, and Scandinavia, the Baltic states and from Prague, Budapest or Zagreb, the shortest journey to Colombo with a convenient change at Chopin Airport. The cruise from Warsaw to Sri Lanka will take about 9 hours – says Rafał Milczarski, the president of LOT.
For several years, South Asia has been the most frequently chosen destination for the increasing number of passengers traveling from many European countries. Located on the Indian Ocean, Ceylon attracts by kilometers of sandy beaches, lush greenery, ancient architecture and outstanding cuisine of the region. The country is also one of the largest tea producers in the world, hence its large part is covered by tea fields. From November to March, the average temperature in Sri Lanka is 30 degrees, making it an ideal proposition for winter relaxation.
Thanks to excellent cooperation with travel agencies, Dreamliners LOT every year fly to many exotic places in the world willingly chosen as the destination of exotic holidays. I am glad that we can take another step today and announce the launch of the first regular long-haul connection, which will be operated in the winter season for tourists from Warsaw and other European cities. It’s the shortest and most convenient way for them to get to the beautiful beaches of Ceylon – says Rafał Milczarski. The other representatives of the industry speak in a similar tone. – It is obvious that carriers reduce their offer on regular routes during the winter season. Machines can not stand idle and be used halfway through a whistle, so searching for charter or tourist destinations for them is perfectly right. In Poland, the demand for winter trips is growing exponentially and as it is estimated this winter the interest in travel will increase by more than 220 percent. compared to the season from two years ago. Winter wanderers are beginning to discover new directions, which include Sri Lanka and India – says Adrian Furgalski from the Tordes’ Dordcy Gospodacze Group.
A new Dreamliner for Sri Lanka The new connection will be made by the most modern wide-bodied aircraft in the world – Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. In each of them, passengers have at their disposal three classes of travel: LOT Business Class with armchairs decomposing to a flatbed position and a kitchen like from the best restaurant; LOT Premium Economy Class with a larger, individual space, comfortable seats with footrests, thigh rests, cocktail tables and a rich menu, as well as LOT Economy Class with modern armchairs with individual onboard entertainment screens and USB sockets as well as fresh and varied meals served during the voyage. Decks will also include products containing regional elements. The launch of the connection from Warsaw to Colombo is an element of the profitable growth strategy that LOT has been implementing since the beginning of 2016, and most of its assumptions have been implemented by the Polish carrier ahead of time. LOT is constantly expanding its fleet. In December last year, the carrier picked up another new aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8 and four Embraery 190 (the carrier already has in its fleet of 34 Embraers four types). This year, deliveries of the next nine B737 MAX are planned, the number of which will increase by the end of this year to 14. By the end of this year, four more B787 Dreamliner planes will join the fleet, thanks to which their number in the LOT fleet will increase to 15. Last year, LOT transported a record number of over 8.9 million passengers, by 2 million more than a year earlier. This year, the Polish carrier plans to carry 10 million passengers. LOT currently uses 80 modern aircraft on a daily basis. The carrier has in its scheduled offer already 111 connections on three continents. Tickets for the new LOT connection to Colombo are already available in all sales channels, including on lot.com, LOT Contact Center, LOT Travel offices and agents.
Ambassador CAHM Wijeratne met with Hon Stanislaw Karczewski, Marshal (Speaker) of the Polish Senate on 13th Feb and discussed with him the future plan for strengthening existing bilateral relations and particularly the issue o visas for Sri Lankans.
The Sri Lanka Mission in Warsaw celebrated Sri Lanka’s 71st Anniversary of Independence with a diplomatic reception held yesterday (February 07th) at the Polonia Palace Hotel in Warsaw for the first time.
Over 200 high dignitaries including a large and representative gathering of Ambassadors in Warsaw, Representatives, senior diplomats, Sri Lankan professionals, members of the press and civil society, among others, were present to mark the occasion.
The proceedings commenced with playing of the National Anthems of Sri Lanka and Poland. H.E. Mr. CAHM Wijeratne, Ambassador delivered the welcome address.
Ambassador Wijeratne delivering the welcome speech outline the hardships faced by Sri Lanka in the post independence era and appreciated the support extended by the International Community to face these obstacles.
The Ambassador also elaborated the existing excellent bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Poland. “Both countries celebrated 60 years of diplomatic relations in the year 2017. Our relations over last six decades have remained deep and consistent and have now extended into many areas of cooperation. Both countries have enjoyed excellent relation, which have enjoyed excellent relation, which have extended into political, economic, cultural spheres” he mentioned.
The evening featured a variety of traditional Sri Lankan cuisine and sweet meats including a tea station which enabled guests to sample a variety of Sri Lankan teas. Additionally, all guests were presented with gift tea packs.
One of the highlights of the evening was a traditional dance Performances by Army and Navy Dance Group of Sri Lanka. As this was the first time the Polish audience has experienced such performances in Warsaw the audience was very much appreciative of the event.
Hon Deputy Minister Mr. Maceij Lang was the Chief Guest of the event.
