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Diana re-confirms she will leave for US to initiate talks with Walt Disney
State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage today reconfirmed that she will leave for US soon to initiate talks on inviting Walt Disney to invest in a theme park in Sri Lanka.
Responding to social media claims that the Disneyland project was false, she said that she was in touch with the Walt Disney group and would soon visit the US to initiate discussions.
She also said that a project of such a scale would benefit Sri Lanka and also boost Sri Lanka's tourism sector.
She said she was determined to attract projects to Sri Lanka which would strengthen the economy as well as benefit other sectors.
If the discussions are successful, Sri Lanka will be able to construct South Asia's first Disneyland.
Comments - 64
Comments - Diana re-confirms she will leave for US to initiate talks with Walt Disney
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Shelly Belly Monday, 24 October 2022 07:28 PM
Diana, business discussions at this stage of your fairy tale can be done on zoom. You'll beg to be bailed out by America and then show that you have millions to travel there on government visits. Get your priorities in order.
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Wrong, Wrong wrong Tuesday, 25 October 2022 07:32 PM
How naive are you? You're insane if you think investor who wants to put in billions of dollars will take a proposal from a bankrupt country based on a zoom calla. The possibilities for fraud are far greater. I expect Disney will be checking Diana and her group asking them questions about the proposal like in a court of law. If they believe Diana brings something real, they'll have to come here to check everything claimed is true again.
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Lanka Monday, 24 October 2022 07:35 PM
Also, find out how to feed the hungry children in Sri Lanka. The malnutrition needs to be addressed. Hopefully, Disney will have a solution by showing Mickey and Minnie......Lol!!! Good luck!! Enjoy the free rides!!
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Travis fox Monday, 24 October 2022 07:35 PM
Ohhhh another joke from her. When will sri lanka learn. Before you go and talk to them increase the facilities in sri lanka so that tourists wil come. Power cuts fuel and many more security. How stupid can one be???
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Jayampathi Monday, 24 October 2022 07:46 PM
I have big doubt on this project. Walt Disney World is the most visited vacation resort in the world with an average annual attendance of over 58 million visitors for 5 Disneylands. So Disneyland will never start a project atleast without 10 million visitors per month. They will never take a chance with a poor living small country with 22 million population and less than million visitors a year. Only advantage is closed proximity to India. Then they will set up a project in India not in Sri Lanka.
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Sebastian Fernando Tuesday, 25 October 2022 09:36 AM
As long as the tax payers money is not disposed for these trips it is a good effort. She should bear all expenses. Why not invite the WD team to assess here ..
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Athk69 Monday, 24 October 2022 07:47 PM
Also convey that there will be enough jobless clowns (no disrespect to the true professionals) to offer there skills at a reasonable salary, to work in the theme park. A lot of her soon to be past colleagues will be happy to apply for any vacancies - especially those in and around the Hambantota area.
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M Fernando Monday, 24 October 2022 08:37 PM
Hambantota is so much more desirable as a location than Hong Kong, Shanghai and. Tokyo ! Besides, Sri Lanka has the affluent population to keep MaRa Disneyland going. Remember the 200,000 foreign tourists appearing at Nelum Kuluna with only 29,000 airport arrivals.
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Lankan macho fellows Monday, 24 October 2022 08:38 PM
Hello,instead go to Disney World, you must get the 300 Sri Lankan to come to Sri Lanka for to have more fun.
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Disney Monday, 24 October 2022 08:38 PM
Aney Manda! Is this really possible? Is it really worth the try? Should we not start something small, before going to start with Disneyland??!!
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Roshan samarathunga Monday, 24 October 2022 08:42 PM
I think she needs to be careful of unelected president expecting to her master debate immortally gifted unelected president before leaving the country
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Countrymustdevelop Monday, 24 October 2022 08:49 PM
This is a great move and we should wish all the best for this venture to be initiated. It is important for the general public to understand these sort of moves will automatically generate massive forex income as the important thing is to conclude strategic ideas soones possible rather than evaluating for years.Anyways there will be many opposes if anything starts from subue parties.Expect brain washed people to bring out environmental, cultural and various other petty strides to hinder these. Truth or false, this is a good effort and we need these badly.
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Jude Monday, 24 October 2022 08:49 PM
Diana left SJB coz she wants to get rich and get rich fast!! Remember, BIG projects bring in big commission and big cut!! Yeah!!
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Wisdom Monday, 24 October 2022 08:51 PM
This is not the time to dump money on white elephant projects. She is going out for a holiday.
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Todd Monday, 24 October 2022 08:55 PM
Hasn't she heard something called Zoom or Skype?. Does she think that she being there physically would make any sense? To me, this looks only as if she wants to carry an entourage and make a joyful visit to the states with the tax payer's money. Anyone who has a little bit of knowledge (on anything actually) knows that to even pitch in a project, you need to provide sufficient details. What, how, who, when, where are like the basic questions. I'm all up for initiating good projects for the country, but come on, this is just bull. Some of these politiccos still think the people are just incompetent like them.
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M Fernando Tuesday, 25 October 2022 07:06 AM
Probably there is a relatives wedding or special function that she has to attend in the US. She is trying to save the country some money by combining with the Disney negotiations. You guys are so negative. It's almost as if you have no confidence in our ministers....
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Anton Monday, 24 October 2022 09:24 PM
The woman must be crazy. Why don't anybody stop her? Is a Disneyland what people need now? Tourists are not coming for such things but for the uniqueness of the country. What a shame!
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Kumar Monday, 24 October 2022 09:40 PM
First a big oil refinery, then came oil drilling now Disneyland. I suppose Diana is about to embark on a government paid Disney vacation. All this is happening before getting the boot from the legislature.
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TJ Monday, 24 October 2022 09:40 PM
She should repay all expenses if the project fails. She could have easily called the Disney officials for preliminary talks here in Srilanka
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Ganeshwaran Monday, 24 October 2022 10:09 PM
Let us have two Disney Theme parks one in the South and the other in the North, in Jaffna. There are thousands of Jaffna youths with no jobs, Indians are using their Christian Tamil agents like Buffalocitizen to brainwash the Jaffna youths to become pro Indian potential fighters. Only way to stop the Indians influencing the Jaffna youths is to find them a permanent good pay employment. A Disney park in Jaffna can employ few hundred youths very easily.
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Shelly Belly Tuesday, 25 October 2022 12:59 AM
You realize that Walt Disney was a devout Christian right? So to stop influencing Jaffna youth from Christians you are supporting a Christian corporation's business in Jaffna? Ok very nice logic.
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Ranja Tuesday, 25 October 2022 09:07 AM
And after that as usual donate that also to China.
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Lanka Monday, 24 October 2022 10:34 PM
When do these people learn? Is this the hour of need? Most tourists look for "exotic", unspoilt, nature oriented, secluded vacation spots. Besides that, so many "mega projects" are idling now in our country. Do these people have no brains?
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Prasath Monday, 24 October 2022 10:40 PM
Diana's Disney is like champikas and gamanpilas gas in mannar basin, mahindas oil refinery in hambantota, rohithas space programme, ranils Wolksvagan factory, have a good trip Diana with tax payers money
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Nihal S Monday, 24 October 2022 11:02 PM
Tax payer funded overseas trips, nothing else. The first step would be to conduct a pre-feasibility study, not a USA visit by a politician. A lot can be done through virtual meetings. Waste of tax payers money.
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Ajit Monday, 24 October 2022 11:27 PM
Diana some of your ideas are good. Do u think walt disney will invest in Hambantota, can they recover cost from poor farmers of hambantota This is crazy idea, will not work out, please dont use goverment money, use own cash,or do by zoom
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Concerned citizen Monday, 24 October 2022 11:57 PM
Leave the bloody environment as it is without destructive. We have destroyed enough, idiot! Further you are just using your position to travel at state or tax payers expenses when you can have discussions on digital platforms such as Zoom. This type of selfish politicians must be thrown out soon. You seem to love attention, the attention seeker
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Roisin Tuesday, 25 October 2022 12:04 AM
Ganeshwaran aka Sisira, Dr. Kumar, Shivakumar, Mylvaganam, G. Miskin etc: please get professional help. And DM editors do your job properly.
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M M Tuesday, 25 October 2022 12:23 AM
what a waste of public funds utilizing for this tour, this is another similar story of the Walkswagon factory setup in Sri Lanka
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Nadi Karunaratne Tuesday, 25 October 2022 01:03 AM
We need people of integrity, education and judgement. Not gutter types mouthing the latest ill thought out mental spasm that we know will never come to fruition.
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Hawkeye Tuesday, 25 October 2022 01:10 AM
When will these people realise that there is nothing called FREE LUNCH! This is probably a ploy by the DG to have a nice overseas trip at country's expense. I bet as time goes on the purpose of this trip and the proposed project will be a distant memory. While people will have to carry an empty can.
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Ram Tuesday, 25 October 2022 01:20 AM
Why must the taxpayers pay for Diana's trip to US to look into another project that will be a death trap. If the project is canvassed on BOT (Build Operate and Transfer) format it will not cost us any money and is acceptable
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Peiris Tuesday, 25 October 2022 01:29 AM
I am sure the talks will be an utter failure. Utter madness and futile trip. Would Walt Disney dare bring this business to a country that is poorer than Bangladesh?
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Ponapala Balusinha Tuesday, 25 October 2022 01:52 AM
Why these people have no brains!! May be sitting on them!! Children are starving - no medicines - no books - no food!! How these basturds spend money on overseas trips? Good for Ponna Nayagam!
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Andrew Fernando Tuesday, 25 October 2022 02:33 AM
I like this move because Sri Lanka is living in a fairytale
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L Jaya Tuesday, 25 October 2022 03:04 AM
In which passport she intends to travel to US. She is not a SL citizen, this what I have been hearing from social media
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Citizen Tuesday, 25 October 2022 03:09 AM
Have you checked out the "massive income" that is generating from the Port City? All imagination! They started with bells and whistles now what is happening? Isn't it another white elephant? Stop the WASTE already and start productivity especially in the agricultural area.
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Dinesh Tuesday, 25 October 2022 03:33 AM
It is thouroghly offensive that this woman assumes we are so stupid to accept this as anything more than a taxfunded holiday. There is not a hope that any representative of this country would get an appointment with Disney management, not even a junior assistant. Not even just to put up posters in a staff canteen. There is more chance of a Disney land in Chad. Oh hang on, maybe its the Disney land "shanghai branch" , building on land given to them by SL govt, with Chinese hotels and Chinese workers. Now that just might fly!! No tenders, plenty of commissions, a stupid idea, sounds like a perfect project for any Sri Lankan politician to get involved with when you actually think about it!. When she returns, simply arrest her for misuse of public funds. It really is that easy. Just do it!! This just has to stop. Her audacity is mind-blowing.
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Ranjan Tuesday, 25 October 2022 04:35 AM
No Dollars, Electricity power cuts, Electricity bills are increased, farmers don’t have furtilizer, schools is shambles, shortage of medicine, hotels not able to run, locals are packing up and leaving abroad and this lunatic is talking of Disney Land. Please have it in Angoda.
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Mudalali Tuesday, 25 October 2022 04:43 AM
She will be seeking asylum in the US. Due these useless politicians our country is doomed. Let's hope she never returns
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Punchi Tuesday, 25 October 2022 04:51 AM
China is using Hambantota port to spy on India. This has upset both the US and India. We are selling the concept to the US that US can spy on the Chinese spies in Hambantota from Disney if the open open up under the guise of a theme park. We also get a theme park for free
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Reza Tuesday, 25 October 2022 06:27 AM
SL is now categorized as poor country with 22mn population and around 1mn mostly budget tourists. Also SL is broke and no infrastructure for tourists. Currency restrictions with a depreciating LKR too. Hence unless the WD higher ups have to be constantly on the Ganja to agree to something so stupid.
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Gehan Tuesday, 25 October 2022 07:03 AM
Can someone please tell Diana Gamage that once her plan to get the entire nation stoned after legalising cannabis, she is highly unlikely to find anyone prepared to wear those ridiculous costumes in sweltering heat and walk around trying to entertain kids and adults. She could of course try air conditioning the conference centre in Hambantota and put this white elephant to some use....assuming we have enough energy to power the place and put Disney land inside it.
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Sambo Tuesday, 25 October 2022 07:17 AM
She should leave and get back to England as she is no more entitled to be in parliament. Trying to build a Disney Land in a jungle. What stupidity
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Citizen k Tuesday, 25 October 2022 07:22 AM
Good idea Ganeswaran.Hope you are proposing to invest in it.We had enough conflict in the country,please do not bring in religion into this.Hope you have proof and it is not just a hearsay .
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Moskito Tuesday, 25 October 2022 07:29 AM
In Simple language, she is going to see Disneyland at government's expense. Like those who spent lavishly to bring the commonwealth games to Hambanthota. ha ha.... Sinhalaya Modaya, Rawatena Ali Booruwa
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Anura Nanayakkara Tuesday, 25 October 2022 07:38 AM
This is totally unwarranted at this stage due to our poor economic situation in the country where there are millions of children suffering from malnutrition , Diana thinks this as a priority. This has to be stopped before there is another mass scale public uprising.
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Wrong, Wrong wrong Tuesday, 25 October 2022 07:42 PM
No chance there will be public uprising for Diana going to US to try convince investor to put in more than 10 billion dollars to here...
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Wesley Moses Tuesday, 25 October 2022 08:11 AM
Yes it Great Minister Dina ,the person who love the country should encourage the Minister to continue to bring such in projects for the betterment of people of Sri Lanka..
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Karunapala Gonasinha Tuesday, 25 October 2022 08:12 AM
Sell if you have something valuable to bring some money to repay poor people in Sl who are starving, no medicines, no books, no water, no electricity, ...
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Wrong, Wrong wrong Tuesday, 25 October 2022 07:43 PM
That won't happen. Maybe you can sell something you own and show her and the rest of the nation the way by then donating what you make from the sale.
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Mickey Mouse on the Roller Coaster Tuesday, 25 October 2022 08:17 AM
My last trip to Disney (LA) in 2014 cost me nearly US$80 per ticket per person. Do you really think a person can afford Rs 30,000 for a single visit to the theme park? This is Diana's fully paid bells and whistles trip to the US to have a gala time at tax payers money. Ranil, you will have to give account for this waste.
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Malik Hassan Tuesday, 25 October 2022 08:58 AM
Please dont go to the US for discussions, about 20 people will travel and we will have spend about a minimum of Rs50 million on you jokers, please have virtual meetings ( if dont understand please have the meetings on Zoom or MS teams) hope you understand now.
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Wrong, Wrong wrong Tuesday, 25 October 2022 07:39 PM
Do you really believe Disney would take seriously anyone who just want to do zoom calls and ask them to invest billions? Maybe you're that type, but no one with lots of money will do like you suggest - trusting on zoom or Microsoft team video calls alone. Maybe for next job interview or promotion you can say, no I don't want to come in person, I want to stay home for it, and save money on petrol, can I just do zoom call for interview?
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Shan Tuesday, 25 October 2022 09:02 AM
Ideal place is right opposite the Diyawanaoya Club. Can make use of the Diyawanaoya lake too.
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Citizen Tuesday, 25 October 2022 09:17 AM
There should be some excuse to go on a trip of this nature. You think of Disney Land and within hours planning a visit to USA. Not bad very prompt.
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Terrence Tuesday, 25 October 2022 09:37 AM
In this age of technological advancement and when the resources are available negotiations could take place on zoom at your disposal being a legislator it is necessary to contain unnecessary expenditure as we are in difficult times for our fellow countrymen eking out a living all costs will affect the public purse which will filter down to more taxation for the public so act prudently without being categorized as a nincompoop
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Gangawesi Tuesday, 25 October 2022 02:40 PM
Feed malnutrition kids first..
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“ The Lansi Burgher Gent “ Tuesday, 25 October 2022 03:14 PM
As usual our fellows have got it all wrong. Tourists come to Sri Lanka to enjoy nature. Not to see that blinking tower sticking out like a sore thumb, a theme park or a Disneyland. Look at what Fiji, Tahiti, Vanuatu, Samoa, and the rest of the islands are doing and just copy them. Really idiot proof when you think of it. Must be going to the States, as she probably misses the rice and curry there and a few boyfriends that she used to date. Must be on first class and a 5 star to boot as well. Good God, what has come about this country? At least, thinking positively, let us hope she brings Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck back. We need a laugh after all the crying, don’t we?
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M Fernando Tuesday, 25 October 2022 05:55 PM
I think you may be wrong. Government reported 200,000 foreign tourists visited Nelum Tower with 29,000 airport arrivals. Are you saying you disbelieve this fact ?? With such mathematics, in Sri Lanka it should be possible to build and fill the proposed Wickremasinghe-Rajapakse Disneyland and turn a respectable profit with zero visitors
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Anthony. R Tuesday, 25 October 2022 06:46 PM
Starvation, Malnutrition, go to hell, I'm off to Disney Land,waste of Tax payers money. Tourists come here to enjoy Nature, Madam.
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Kps Wednesday, 26 October 2022 06:38 AM
Nice vacation with business class trip over poor tax payers expense
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Suruppa Daya Wednesday, 26 October 2022 11:48 AM
I wish she will look at all these comments before she leaves on the Disneyland tour at the poor people's expense !
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Nihal Perera Wednesday, 26 October 2022 04:48 PM
What ever said and done whether right or wrong she is looking at positively of the things and trying to contribute to the country. That ìs the responsibility of the parliamentarians. She is very much ahead of other dumb and idiotic MPs.
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