Sri Lanka, Luxembourg Celebrate 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations

Sri Lanka's Independence Day is celebrated annually on 4 February; this year's celebration is its 75th.

2023 also marks 50 years since Luxembourg and Sri Lanka formalised diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Chronicle.lu talked with Grace Asirwatham, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union.

Chronicle.lu: In Sri Lanka, how do people celebrate Independence Day? Are there national events, or do people celebrate within their communities or with family?

Ambassador Asirwatham: Sri Lanka's Independence Day is celebrated on 4 February to commemorate its independence from British rule on that day in 1948. It is celebrated all over the country through a flag-hoisting ceremony, the recitation of the national anthem, multi-religious observances, paying tribute to the national heroes who sacrificed their lives in the service of Sri Lanka, and observing two minutes of silence in their memory, among other cultural activities. Usually, the main celebration takes place in Colombo, where the President of the country hoists the national flag and delivers a nationally televised speech. The programme of the main celebrations in Colombo includes, in addition to national flag hoisting, singing of the national anthem, a military parade showcasing the power of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and Civil Defence, cultural activities, etc. The main celebrations are attended by invited foreign dignitaries and guests, parliamentarians, diplomats, service chiefs, senior government officials and other dignitaries. The Sri Lanka Missions Abroad will also mark the occasion with activities similar to those held throughout Sri Lanka.

Chronicle.lu: In Luxembourg, how big is the Sri Lankan community? Are there social or business networks here?

Ambassador Asirwatham: The size of the Sri Lankan community in Luxembourg is insignificant. Around 75 Sri Lankans live in Luxembourg. Most of them are employed in the financial and ICT sectors, and some are long-term residents.

Chronicle.lu: How is tourism in Sri Lanka recovering since the COVID-19 pandemic? Has the tourism landscape changed in any way?

Ambassador Asirwatham: Sri Lanka's tourism industry has commenced its recovery after suffering setbacks due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic and political crises and global crises.
Following a series of remedial measures put in place, the situation has now returned to normal. Maximum priority was accorded to the revival of the tourism sector and Sri Lanka is beaming once again as a magnificent holiday destination. Sri Lanka Tourism hopes to bring one million tourist arrivals in 2023 and the industry has already seen an increase in tourist arrivals.
Sri Lanka continues to emerge as one of the world's best tourist destinations, earning accolades from various travel guides, travel magazines and travel web sites, including Lonely Planet, Travel Lemming, Bloomberg, etc.
Several countries around the world relaxed their travel advisories on Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka also introduced online visa and on-arrival visa facilities for tourists. Tourists can also apply for a visa at a Sri Lankan mission if they wish to do so.
Sri Lanka provides everything a traveller could ever want to see, making it heaven on earth. The authentic Sri Lankan cuisine will liven up your taste buds, and this land has so much to offer, from the lush green mountains to the sun-kissed beaches in the south, the rolling green tea estates, the exotic and diverse wildlife parks, the unique culture and heritage, and the eight UNESCO Heritage Sites. Further, you could go surfing, whale and dolphin watching, white water rafting or indulge in the traditional bliss of Ayurvedic medicine. You will feel relaxed and awakened like you have never felt before.
Due to its striking variation across the country, it is one of the best destinations to visit and explore what it has to offer within one day or as many days as you may wish. It's a magical wonderland surrounded by the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean, a dream come true for any tourist looking for the perfect holiday and a lifetime memory to cherish.

Chronicle.lu: In many countries, post-pandemic, costs for hotel accommodation, car hire, etc., have risen sharply. Is Sri Lanka experiencing similar trends or has it managed to keep prices at pre-pandemic levels?

Ambassador Asirwatham: At the moment, steep currency depreciation has better positioned Sri Lanka as a low-cost tourist destination. In other words, compared to other countries, Sri Lanka maintains prices at pre-pandemic levels. Sri Lanka presents itself as an affordable tourism destination for diverse categories of tourists. It has classy infrastructure for high spenders, niche markets, tailor-made products and low-cost facilities for free travellers. Regardless of these categories, for all of them, Sri Lanka will be a dream destination and a memory to keep for a lifetime.

Chronicle.lu: How has Sri Lanka's tourism industry evolved in terms of sustainability and eco-tourism?

Ambassador Asirwatham: Sri Lanka sees sustainability as a key driver in preserving and conserving the island's outstanding natural and cultural heritage in order to ensure the destination's viability for our people and tourists in the present and future.
Sri Lanka's ecotourism has become a growing niche sector. It gives tourists the opportunity to enjoy multifaceted attractions such as the highest mountains, the longest sea beaches, magnificent civilisations, glorious traditions, artistic monuments, incredible diversity of landscapes, climates, flora and fauna, unparalleled bio-diversity, topographical variations, etc. It is the ultimate in diversity, beauty and culture, all combined with one of the best treasures of the world: warm, friendly and smiling people. When you choose an ecotourism resort, you choose to preserve the environment, culture and heritage and benefit local communities, who are the key custodians of natural resources and play an active and critical role in conserving valuable biodiversity.

Chronicle.lu: The economy of Sri Lanka has recently been based on tourism, textiles and agriculture (tea, rice and so on). How has the economy evolved? Will it be similar in ten to 20 years' time?

Ambassador Asirwatham: The tourism industry is performing well, especially with the increased arrivals of tourists in 2022. The remittances from foreign employment are also gradually increasing. Further, income from exports is also promising. Our foreign exchange reserve is improving. Inflation has been controlled and maintained. While recovering from the grave economic crisis, the government is also endeavouring to transform the economy with a long-term vision to create an export oriented competitive economy, an environmentally friendly green and blue economy and a digital economy under an overall concept of an open economic system of social protection. The economy will recover and prosper in a matter of a couple of years. Therefore, with the reforms and new polices we are confident and optimistic that Sri Lanka's economy will boom.

Chronicle.lu: Over the past twelve months, many countries have experienced sharp rises in inflation, in particular energy prices. Is Sri Lanka experiencing similar rises? If so, how is it affecting the economy and the business environment?

Ambassador Asirwatham: The global increase in energy prices has affected the socio-economy of Sri Lanka badly, adding to the ongoing foreign exchange crisis in the country. Although the global crises have affected Sri Lanka's economy, the country is preparing itself for long-term prosperity. It is focusing on attracting more investments in renewable energy projects such as solar power, wind power, hydro power, biomass energy projects, etc., to be self-sufficient in its energy requirements.