BIZ

Spas in SL allowed to bring in foreign massage therapists!

Published

3 years ago

October 30, 2022

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Due to a shortage of experienced male and female spa therapists in the country, the Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority (SLTDA) has decided to grant permission for registered hotels to employ therapists from overseas, SLTDA Director General Upali Ratnayake said.

He said that several hotel owners have pointed out to the SLTDA that many foreign tourists visiting the country are looking forward to having spa therapy in hotels, but due to the lack of experienced female and male therapists for it, many spas in leading hotels have been closed.

Mr. Ratnayake said that permission was granted according to a request made by the hotel owners.

“Although a plan had been implemented earlier to recruit spa therapists under an NVQ certificate through the Ayurveda Department, it had to be suspended due to strong opposition from Ayurvedic doctors’ associations,” Ratnayake said.

A total of 469 hotels, including luxury hotels, have registered with the SLTDA that has made a decision to grant a one-year visa for foreign male and female spa therapists to work here.

Meanwhile, Sanath Ukwatta, former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Hotel Association (SLHA), stated that due to social misconceptions about working as spa therapists in hotels, most local workers are hesitant to work in hotels.

Ukwatta further said that the country has lost a lot of foreign exchange due to the closure of massage centres in hotels.

Tourism State Minister Mrs. Diana Gamage said that if it is possible to train experienced spa therapists in this country, it is possible to get employment opportunities in Thailand, Singapore, Maldives and other countries, to bring the necessary dollars to the country.

(dailymirror.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

Related Topics:Featured lka spa SriLanka

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BIZ

End of parate relief for large SMEs

Published

5 hours ago

July 1, 2025

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The grace period granted to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under Sri Lanka’s Parate Execution Law officially ended midnight yesterday (June 30) for businesses with loans exceeding Rs. 50 million.

The Parate Law grants banks the authority to seize properties pledged as collateral without court proceedings. Although its implementation had been suspended for three months by the current administration—and for six months earlier under former President Ranil Wickremesinghe—it has now been reinstated, triggering serious concern among entrepreneurs.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development – Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando has stated that the government intends to hold discussions with all relevant parties in the coming days to address the issues linked to the law’s reimplementation.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader – Sajith Premadasa has warned that the re-implementation of the Parate Execution Law could lead to the rapid auctioning of assets from small, medium, and micro businesses, putting them at risk.

In a statement yesterday (June 30), he emphasized that these businesses contribute over 50% to Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Production (GDP) and employ over 04 million people.

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Special FD scheme for senior citizens introduced

Published

6 hours ago

July 1, 2025

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The Ministry of Finance has officially launched the special fixed deposit scheme for senior citizens.

Proposed in the Budget 2025, the scheme which is open to resident Sri Lankan citizens aged 60 years and above, comes into effect from today (July 01).

Eligible fixed deposits can be opened between July 01, 2025, and December 31, 2025, and must have a 12-month tenure.

The scheme will be implemented through the 17 licensed commercial banks; five (05) government banks and twelve (12) private banks that have confirmed participation. As part of the process, customers are required to provide a declaration confirming that the funds deposited are their own, their monthly income is less than Rs. 150,000, consenting to the sharing of relevant information with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for verification purposes, agreeing that any false information provided will result in disqualification from receiving the interest subsidy.

The government has allocated Rs. 30 billion to cover interest subsidies under this initiative.

Key features of the scheme:
– Deposit Period: 12 months (1 year)

– Deposit Limit: Maximum of Rs. 1 million

– Interest Benefit: Depositors will receive either

An additional 3% over the Average Weighted Fixed Deposit Rate (AWFDR), or
An additional 3% over the declared fixed deposit rate—whichever yields a higher return.

Senior citizens interested in availing themselves of the benefits are encouraged to visit the nearest bank branch starting today. Applicants must provide valid documentation, including their National Identity Card (NIC) and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) issued by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).

This scheme aims to support the financial security of senior citizens by offering them a safer and higher-yielding savings option.