The Sri Lankan economy has benefited no end since a 26-year insurgency ended in 2009. Growth exceeded 8 per cent in 2010 and 2011, up from 5 per cent per year on average during the civil war. Tourists have rediscovered the country and for the past few years Sri Lanka has been touted as one of the hottest destinations.
Key facts about Colombo, the country's capital:
Airlines: Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, FlyDubai and Sri Lankan Airlines connect Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Colombo.
Airport: Bandaranaike International Airport, located 35km north of Colombo at Katunayake, is the main airport serving the capital and is being upgraded to increase its passenger and cargo handling capacities. This includes a runway able to accommodate the A380.
An airport hotel: Jetwing Beach at Negombo. Styled by Sri Lanka's famous architect Geoffrey Bawa, the hotel offers a luxurious retreat just 20 minutes from the airport. Rates start from about Dh1,000 a night.
A downtown hotel: Founded in 1864, the Galle Face Hotel is considered the oldest hotel west of the Suez. Room rates start from about Dh475 a night.
Cost of cab from airport to city centre: 2,820 Sri Lankan rupees, or 3,102 rupees with AC, according to the airport's website.
A conference centre: The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall has the distinction of being the very first purpose-built convention centre in Asia.
A power restaurant: The Gallery Cafe has fusion cuisine and local favourites, at 2 Alfred House Road.
Visa: Multiple entry business visa costs $30.
Currency/conversion rate: 100 Sri Lanka rupees = Dh2.89.
Main businesses: The government is trying to make the economy more knowledge-based and turn the country into a hub within Asia for aviation, commerce, energy and seafaring. Sri Lanka was the world's top tea exporter until 2006. The government last year vowed to regain the No. 1 spot.
Things to do at night: The Cricket Club is a must for fans who will appreciate the memorabilia - signs, photos, souvenirs and signed clothing - scattered throughout the colonial villa.
lgutcher@thenational.ae
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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Kill%20
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
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The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
'O'
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
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A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
Not Dark Yet
Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer
Four stars
