(Colombo Lankapuvath) The Ministry of Economic Development has introduced a Matching Grant Scheme under the Mahinda Chintana Vision for the Future” to support the tourism related SMEs and strengthen the local economy through sustainable tourism development.

Accordingly the Ministry of Economic Development has made available a sum of Rs. 2,000 million with a credit facility from the World Bank as an out-right grant for the development of tourism and tourism related Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’S).

Thereby, the Ministry of Economic Development will bear the cost for either 50% of the project value or a maximum of Rs. 10 million of any SME project under the tourism industry. It is the government’s belief that the SME sector would bridge the gap between large scale corporates and micro level enterprises there by further contributing towards the objective of strengthening the economy of the country.

This Matching Grant Scheme will be administered by People’s Bank under the direction of the Ministry of Economic Development. People’s Bank as the matching admintrator ban brings forward over 50 years of experience in dealing with financial services relating to many ministries in the country and with an extensive branch network of over 725 and owning up to 24 SME sectors testified as the most qualified financial institution to manage the funding of this grant. Through this project it is estimated that almost 1500 SMEs belonging to the industry will receive benefits while 2000 new job opportunities will also be created. The project will also improve the technical and managerial skills of almost 5000 persons and it is expected to bring an additional investment of Rs. 5000 million towards tourism and tourism related SME’s. As per the recent analytics tourist arrivals for the year 2010 stood at 650,000 while this number increased to 1,005,605 in 2012. The Government of Sri Lanka has arrived at steps to increase tourist arrivals to 2.5 Million in 2016 and to 4 Million by the year 2020.

Through such figures it is estimated that the country will receive an income of USD 3 Billion in 2016 and USD 8 Billion in 2020 in terms of foreign exchange earnings.

However in order to achieve these targets, certain drawbacks prevailing in the SME sector need to be identified and necessary steps need to be taken. It is important to create an environment that satisfy tourist which will result in re-visits and promote Sri Lanka as one of the best holiday destinations in the world.
 

(Colombo-Lankapuvath)  The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has ordered to test five samples of Dhal which are suspected to be unsuitable for human consumption.

This follows complaints received by the CAA about five varieties of Dhal in the market.

It is suspected that arsenic elements are contained in the five kinds of imported Dhal.
 

(Colombo-Lankapuvath)  The Motor Traffic Department plans to make it compulsory for all state vehicles to undergo the green test.

Hence all vehicles imported after 1975 will be ordered to make the green test.

This step is being taken to prevent air pollution by the emission of black smoke that cause health hazards.

(Colombo-Lankapuvath)  Moves are afoot to establish a duty free shopping complex at the Mattala International Airport.

Aviation Minister,Priyankara Jayaratne said tenders would be called to that effect.

The duty free shopping complex would attract more visitors, the minister added.
 

(Colombo-Lankapuvath) The Meteorology Department has decided to amend the names suggested by Sri Lanka for storms.

The decision was due to the rise of a number of resentment lately caused by naming the recently brewed cyclone in the Bay of Bengal as ‘Mahasen’ and the currently proposed names will be amended to prevent such hostility from occurring in future, said the Director General of the Met Department, H.S. Kariyawasam.

(Colombo-Lankapuvath) Measures have been taken by the National Transport Commission to exercise special bus services in parallel to Vesak.

Accordingly, these special bus runs will be taken place from May 23 to 27.

Passenger services will be implemented despite the normal bus timetable during the festive season, added the NTC.

(Colombo Lankapuvath)Bill Gates is once again the world's richest person. The 57-year-old co-founder of Microsoft recaptured the title from Mexican investor Carlos Slim on Thursday, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, as the software maker hit a five-year high. It is the first time Gates has held the mantle since 2007. His fortune is valued at $72.7 billion, up 16% year-to-date.

(Colombo-Lankapuvath)   An elderly man was killed when a wild elephant attacked him in Saliyawewa,Sirisarawatta, Puliyankulama area, police stated.

The victim is W.M Punchirala aged 60, they added.