Our dream of positioning Negombo as a premier destination for business and pleasure is slowly but surely becoming reality.  With easy access from the International Airport, and a fabulous beach front, all it needed was quality Hotels, Spas, Restaurants, bars and shops.  I am delighted that Jetwing took the first leap forward and we hope to see the others following in that direction very soon.

Three significant events during the first decade touched my life. First was the Tsunami, where we lost people who were very close to our hearts. The love and compassion we experienced after the Tsunami gave us the courage to rebuild and move on. Second was the passing away of Jetwing’s founder and my father, Herbert. I still miss him daily and continue to praise and thank the Lord for all the blessings He showered on my father and our family. He was one who believed that a leader will emerge in Sri Lanka to bring Peace to our motherland and I am only sad that he was not around to see the third significant event that I experienced; that was the ending of the war on the 19th May 2009. The relief that was brought to the people is so hard to describe and I am so happy to see so many of our brothers and sisters in the North and East beginning to rebuild their lives once again.

I consider myself truly blessed to lead two organizations in the coming years. The First is what I make a living out of, and the company my father founded, “Jetwing”. We will be entering our fifth decade very soon and I hope our roller coaster ride has ended with Peace and Stability in our Island. We have taken bold decisions in the past to transform our three star hotels into the luxury category. We are truly proud with what we achieved with Jetwing Beach back in 2004. The response from our loyal customers and the peace dividend gave us confidence to transform Jetwing Blue Oceanic and Jetwing Seashells which are now renamed Jetwing Blue and Jetwing Sea. Both Hotels will be fully operational in the first quarter of 2011. Having soft opened both Hotels, I am pleased with the response we have received so far from our customers and well wishers. It is also heartening to see our neighbours in the Negombo stretch upgrading their existing properties and some even planning to demolish and rebuild. All these moves will reposition Negombo as a premier beach destination for business and pleasure and Jetwing can be proud for playing a leadership role and carrying Negombo all the way through.

The other is Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) which will be celebrating its sixtieth year in 2011. PATA has taught me a lot and given me so much confidence to move forward in the World of Tourism. My love for the environment began with the Annual conference in Bali back in 1991. Twenty years later, Jetwing and PATA play a leading role in safeguarding our environment and involving local communities.

May I once again wish all of you God’s choicest blessings in the years to come.