TAASL 45th AGM, IAASL 32nd AGM at Tangerine Beach Hotel

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga (right) accepts a token of appreciation from TAASL President 2020/2021 and George Steuarts Travels Ltd. Director/CEO Channe Wijemanne, while IAASL President 2020/2021 and Skyways Travel Solutions Ltd. Managing Director Tilak Wickramasinghe looks on

The 45th Annual General Meeting of the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL) and the 32nd Annual General Meeting of the IATA Agents Association of Sri Lanka (IAASL) was held on Saturday, 19 September, at the Tangerine Beach Hotel, Kalutara. 183 participants attend this event. 

George Steuarts Travels Ltd. Director/CEO Channe Wijemanne was re-elected as President of the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL) for the year 2020 /2021. Skyways Travel Solutions Ltd. Managing Director Tilak Wickramasinghe was elected as the President of the IATA Agents Association of Sri Lanka (IAASL) for the year 2020 /2021.

Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga graced the occasion with his presence. During his speech, Wijemanne requested the Minister of Tourism to assist the industry on the requests made for financial assistance for the travel industry and moratorium and the working capital soft loan extensions. Further the Minister of Tourism reiterated that as discussed positions would be given to TAASL and IAASL on the management committee of Airport and Aviation. Wijemanne thanked the Minister of Tourism profusely for giving the industry numerous opportunities to voice our grievances and wished him good luck in achieving his objectives and confirmed the industries fullest corporation and support. 

TAASL is the national travel agents body in the country, with representation on the governing boards of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourist Hotel Management (SLITHM), the Tourism Industry Skills Council and a Member of the ‘One Industry One Voice’ initiative taken among the travel and tourism industry, was founded on 22 October 1974 and is an approved Association of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce representing the interest of 165 outbound travel agents in Sri Lanka. 

IATA Agents Association of Sri Lanka (IAASL) an affiliated Association of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, which was formed in 1988 as a body to represent the interests of the Sri Lankan Travel Agencies accredited by the International Air Transport Association. At present the membership consists of over 145 travel agencies located throughout Sri Lanka.

The following Executive Council Members were elected at the TAASL Annual General Meeting:

Jude Condrad of Himpras Tours Ltd. – Senior Vice President, Sabry Bahaudeen of Classic Travels Ltd. – Junior Vice President, Aitken Spence Travels Ltd. – Nishantha Senaveratne, Alpha Travels & Holidays Ltd. – Wilhelm E. Brown, BOC Travels Ltd. – Romesh Samaranayake, Acorn Travels Ltd. (Formally Hemas Travels Ltd. – Mohamed Hussain Abdul Habeeb, Intersun Travels Ltd. –Suffian Mohideen, Lando Travels Ltd. – Lawrence Fernando, Mackinnons Travels Ltd. –Shamindra Fernando, Scenic Ventures Ltd. – Rizwan Ramieze, Skyways – Tillak Wickremasinghe, Traveller Global Destinations & Leisure Holidays Ltd. – Omar – Ul – Shibly Shamsudeen, Upul’s Travel Service Ltd. – Kapilanath Kalapuge.

The following Executive Council Members were elected at the IAASL Annual General Meeting:

Janath Vidanage of Danata Travels & Tour Ltd. – Vice President, Riza Ahamat – 02ND Chance Travels Ltd., Hussain Habeeb – Acorn Travels Ltd., Wilhelm Brown – Alpha Travels & Holidays Ltd., Romesh Samaranayake – B.O.C. Travels Ltd., Mohamed Sabry Bahaudeen – Classic Travels Ltd., Brighton Alexander – Ganlo Travel & Tours Ltd., Mohamed Ziard Wahid – Golden International Travels & Tours Ltd., Jude Condrad – Himpras Tours Ltd., Lawrence Fernando – Lando Travels Ltd., Shaminda Fernando – Mackinnons Travels Ltd., Rizwan Rameize – Scenic Ventures Ltd., Saman Premakumara – Travel World Ltd., Rizmi Reyal – The Traveller Global Ltd., Duminda Kuruwitaarachchi – Travel Outlook Ltd., Kapilanath Kalapuge – Upuls Travel Service Ltd., Nishantha Senaveratne will join the Executive Council in his capacity as the Immediate Past President.