Professional Documents
Culture Documents
...... 1
What is One Stop Unit - Unit for National Investment in Tourism
(UNIT) ..............
Unit 2
Services................................................................................................................. 3
UNIT Resource Centre ................................................................................................. 3
Step-by-Step Process
........................................................................................................ 4
Fee
Structure ........................................................................................................................
Investors are required to make only two payments to UNIT ........................................ 7 6
Development
Guidelines................................................................................................... 10
Density of Accommodation ......................................................................................... 11
Buildings Heights......................................................................................................... 11
Buffer Zones ................................................................................................................ 11
Construction/Design Guidelines ................................................................................. 11
Visual Quality ............................................................................................................... 11
Conservation................................................................................................................ 11
Project proposal Guidelines........................................................................................ 12
Investment Policy......................................................................................................... 12
Entry and Exit of Foreign Investment .......................................................................... 13
Investment Protection ................................................................................................. 13
Agencies Represented at
UNIT....................................................................................... 14
FAQs ....................................................................................................................................
. 20
Elephants roam freely, water buffaloes idle in paddy fields and monkeys swing
from trees. And then theres the pristine coastline. The miles of sugary white sand
flanked by bamboo groves that were off-limits to most visitors until recently...
The New York Times ranked Sri Lanka as No. 1 of 31 places to visit in 2010
Sri Lanka, an island off the Indian subcontinent with a land area of 64,470 square kilometres,
has a population of around 19.7 million people. The workforce, highly literate, makes up 35%
of the population. With an economy of $43.3 billion (2010 estimate) and a per capita GDP of
approximately $5,300, the country has experienced sustained growth in recent years. The
government is committed to further development of the economy - ranked as one of the most
liberalised in South Asia by creating a business climate conducive to private investment.
Investors receive preferential tax rates, guarantees on investment agreements, exemptions
from exchange control, and 100% repatriation of profits..
In antiquity, Sri Lanka then known as Taprobane and later Serendib -attracted many
entrepreneurs, particularly Arabs and Chinese, due to its wealth of gems, pearls, ivory and
ebony, and its strategic location on the early maritime trade routes. Todays entrepreneurs
can select from a much wider variety of business opportunities. Take the tourism industry,
which is based on Sri Lankas exceptional natural and cultural attributes the beaches with
their sugary white sand; snorkelling diving, windsurfing; dolphin and whale watching; scenic
mountains with rivers ideal for white-water rafting; bio-diverse rainforests, wildlife
sanctuaries, botanical gardens; a remarkable archaeological heritage; and colourful festivals.
All these attributes are now being more widely appreciated, for during the first 5 months of
2010, Sri Lanka recorded 233,922 tourist arrivals, representing a growth of 48.5% compared
to 2009. This number is expected to continue to rise due to political stability, the removal of
travel advisory, and favourable international tourism ratings.
Currently Sri Lanka has a number of five-star hotels and approximately 180 other hotels and
resorts. Together with the government, Sri Lanka Tourism is working towards a significant
increase in tourist
-and therefore arrivals
room capacity - in the next few years. Foreign direct investment and
international trade is encouraged and many incentives offered. In order for investors to take
full advantage of these opportunities, Sri Lanka Tourism has established a One Stop Unit Unit
for National Investment in Tourism (UNIT) that provides a trouble-free, convenient, and time-
saving method of obtaining approvals and implementing projects.
Information on potential tourist invest- Help with staffing needs and the
ments. Help with investment setting up of an office.
If the investor has a specific tourism project in mind but has not
1. The investor can view a presentation on investing in Sri Lanka and obtain
information
the on
various projects available for tourism investors. (www.sltda.gov.lk)
Upon finalising the project plan, the steps 1-10 listed under A will be
followed
Investors are required to make only two payments to UNIT:
1. The fee for processing your application, SLR. 300,000+ relevant taxes for the
minimum investment of US$ 500,000. All other investments will be charged SLR. 100,000 +
relevant taxes.
The appropriate fee or the minimum of Rs. 300,000 as applicable will be charged at the
time of granting SLTDA preliminary approval.
This includes the following: This does not include the followings:
a) Application processing fee of One Stop unit. a) Administrative charges for EIA / IEER b)
Fee for common inspection.
DEPARTMENT OF IRRIGATION
Department of Irrigation, which was established in 1900, is a principal Government
organization responsible for the regulation and control of inland water. It is responsible for
planning, design, construction, operation and management of all major and medium Irrigation
schemes and works related to flood control, drainage and salinity extrusion. it is the main
regulatory body for implementation of Irrigation ordinance, Technical Guidance circulars of
Irrigation Department and flood protection Ordnance.
www.irrigation.gov.lk
DEPARTMENT OF ExCISE
Excise Department has been established under the Excise Ordinance No 8 of 1912 and its
committed to Collect and protect of revenue from liquor and tobacco, enforcement of the
Excise Ordinance and the Tobacco Tax Act. The Excise department is responsible for effecting
of Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, and it has the National Authority on
Tobacco and Alcohol. Excise licences are issued to Tourist Board approved establishments,
under the Excise Notification No 902 published on 10th April 2008 in the Extra Ordinary
gazette No. 1544/17. www.excise.gov.lk