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South Asia’s first Disneyland to be set up in Hambantota?
State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage will be visiting US next month to initiate talks in constructing South Asia's first Disneyland in Hambantota.
A statement from Gamage's media unit said that the State Minister will be visiting Burbank in the United States next month to discuss initial plans for an 18-billion dolar investment in Sri Lanka, following an invitation following an invitation from the Walt Disney Company.
She was invited by Alexia S. Quadrani, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations at the Walt Disney Company. The State Minister had earlier written to Walt Disney Company inviting them to set up a Disneyland in Sri Lanka.
"Following your request, we at the Walt Disney Company have agreed to visit Sri Lanka during late November this year to hold a series of exploratory meetings to understand the financial feasibility of setting up a regional Disneyland in Hambantota," Quadrani said in a letter to the State Minister. A delegation from Disney is expected in November this year.
Quadrani said that, while unable to provide exact details, an investment would be in the ange of $16-18 billion.
This would provide much needed financial injection to Sri Lanka in order to mitigate the dollar crisis, the statement said.
State Minister Gamage also said that such an investment would be beneficial to use the large infrastructure available in the area including the Mattala Airport.
Comments - 80
Comments - South Asia’s first Disneyland to be set up in Hambantota?
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DHA Sunday, 23 October 2022 06:08 PM
Common it's not worth it project why target on a project that people can't afford ! why not spend half the money and develop the nature reserves.....that will attract a lot of tourist ! eg. crocodile watching in Nilwala ganga....
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Ranil Sunday, 23 October 2022 06:11 PM
Redda ussala "Micky" were pennapiya!
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Prasanna Sunday, 23 October 2022 06:13 PM
Disneyland ... almost like a fairytale authored by our own Diana ...
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Sri Sunday, 23 October 2022 06:22 PM
This is not a good place to do it at all... already you have destroyed the ecology and environment of this region...Now all elephants ; animals and birds will do Aragalaya in this areas ..did you get any professional advice to do this ? Did any experts on this field advise you? Did any Economist or environmentalists advise you ? Did you seek advice of any experts ? All projects are failure in this area for many reasons.. one more failure ..do this project around Colombo areas or around it so that all will come to this ? Don't waste any public money over there . Don't repeat the stupidity of MR and co once again..this politics is a trust vested upon you ...not your family assets...
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Kadu Karaya Sunday, 23 October 2022 09:44 PM
There might be ecological disaster, but the money is not public. The land might be public/government, but the money is to come in from overseas! Better if Disney made to buy/lease the land at fair rates, and not subsided prices.
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Dee Sunday, 23 October 2022 06:24 PM
Isn't there any other place? Hambantota is a place that recalls misery, danger, robbery. Overall. A big put off!
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Shehan M Sunday, 23 October 2022 06:27 PM
Enjoy your luxury holiday and shopping trip sponsored by Sri Lankan tax payers.
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Mahesh Sunday, 23 October 2022 06:27 PM
Good idea but Hambanthota is not suitable for it. Look for a land in Kalutara or Gampaha if Colombo is not possible.
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Sam Silva Sunday, 23 October 2022 06:37 PM
She should get her head examined Also the person who appointed her.
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Mr Mentally Weakened Sunday, 23 October 2022 09:52 PM
Glad to hear about what about the proposal and statements about Disney being interest makes you say this.
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Terrence Sunday, 23 October 2022 06:43 PM
Hambantota is not an ideal place to locate disneyland as some of the earlier projects have been white elephants. Prudent thinking should be adopted by getting many views from those professionals who could drive this project as consideration should be given to lean periods where tourists may not patronize and alternative visionary strategies adopted to ensure the feasibility of the project
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I am patriot Sunday, 23 October 2022 06:43 PM
Only our neighbors would be jealous/against it, to want it in India instead!
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Kadu Karaya Sunday, 23 October 2022 09:50 PM
India will lose their chance for Disneyland for next 25 to 50 years at least if one built here. Waiting to see how Indian agents will try complain about negative effect to Sri Lanka, or security concern to their country if proposal gets moving.
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I am patriot Sunday, 23 October 2022 06:50 PM
If Disney want to put in billions of dollars they might consider alternative locations based on their research. Hambantota has had too much investment in the last few decades, because of the Rajapaksas direction for it. One of the reasons we have so much defaulted debt now. Better be build away from that black hole of money losses, there unless there are overwhelming benefit to go near that region again!
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SamM Sunday, 23 October 2022 07:03 PM
Good work if it is true
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Sandy Sunday, 23 October 2022 07:10 PM
Minister looks like a cartoon character
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Gayantha Sunday, 23 October 2022 07:19 PM
Good idea but let's hope it'll not be another white elephant in hambantota like the mattala airport!
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sugath Sunday, 23 October 2022 07:26 PM
Good news!
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Saman Sunday, 23 October 2022 07:27 PM
Stop this nonsesnse
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Mandayan Sunday, 23 October 2022 07:30 PM
Another white elephant like Mathala? Without a proper thinking who the visitors and the revenue, any project will fail.
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Truth Seeker Sunday, 23 October 2022 07:32 PM
Another scam to swindle money and let the whole thing rot like the Matara airport. These low lives need to kicked out sooner than later.
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Spartacus Sunday, 23 October 2022 07:49 PM
Absolute nonsense. What is the business plan? Anyway just because yakko Diana wants Disney Land, those in USA know it will not work and if she still insists will install one on Sri Lanka's public funds like the Chinese did with Nelum Kulana, Mattala Airport, Htota Port
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Lanka Sunday, 23 October 2022 07:53 PM
Are you serious!!!! Tell me you just had a dream!!! People have not food, no medication, no fuel to get from one place to another nor to operate those machines and light up Disneyland. Haven't you guys learned a lesson from all the " mega projects" that are occupied by the mosquitoes? You just got to be OUT OF YOUR DAMNED MIND!!!!!
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kamal Sunday, 23 October 2022 07:54 PM
Sri, About 150/200 years ago, Colombo and its environs too were coverd with dense forest. Today, the forest has completely disappared and the area has become a large man made city. Do you approve the distruction of environment that happend in and around Colombo to create the presend city that exists today?
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DOT Sunday, 23 October 2022 08:13 PM
She is a brave lady !
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BORU SHOW Sunday, 23 October 2022 08:44 PM
From where is Diana finding the Dollars to travel to the US ? It is not Disney land that people need but Cemeteries to bury the more and more people who will be dying in hunger .
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Nihal S Sunday, 23 October 2022 09:02 PM
This is not the need of the hour for our country. If the President approves the initiative, enjoy your tax payer funded first class travel to the USA. Why not. By the way - how long you will be in the position with your duel citizenship given 22 ruling?
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Sam Sunday, 23 October 2022 09:19 PM
I agree that all other investment in Hambantota has been folly. This sounds worthwhile however. From the sounds of it this is going to be Disney investing here and not the government getting loans to runa Disney franchise. On these terms only it's a great idea. Don't go down the 20 rupees for locals 500usd for foreigners route though. You need to stop that everywhere. Nowhere else does it.
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GHT Sunday, 23 October 2022 09:28 PM
Bring back the DOLLAR to revive the ECONOMY. Go ahead with the project you cannot satisfy every Pro-UNPer or SJBer.
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cineha Sunday, 23 October 2022 09:34 PM
U$ 16 - 18 billion investment? I doubt the feasibility of it compared to the nations population and its spending capacity to match it. This lady seems to be insane and trying to be in media limelight with such utterances.
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ala Sunday, 23 October 2022 09:37 PM
18 billion USD. Disneyland, could end like the volks wagon factory which is operating in our country and bringing in mush needed foreign currency!!
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Pamela Dunuwille Sunday, 23 October 2022 10:00 PM
Who are those who thought this was a bright idea??. Looks like this government is going in the direction of the last govt, time for another repeat performance and hound those who came up with the idea and those who supported it. We are going deeper into troubled waters by the looks of things and the time is right to bring out the masses and demand a General Election, I am sure there will be a country/countries who will help fund the election. Deeply concerned
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tilak Sunday, 23 October 2022 10:16 PM
she will not be a minister after the 22 amendment has been passed with her British dual citizenship. So stop dreaming Diana baby
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Kadu Karaya Monday, 24 October 2022 10:13 AM
Where is your evidence that's she's British? Does she speak that way? Instead maybe you're an Indian operative trying to smear her, to try sabotage Sri Lanka effort, because India will lose their chance forever for Disneyland if one created here by the Disney company!
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Pamela Dunuwille Sunday, 23 October 2022 10:16 PM
IF Walt Disney has written as above and agreed to visit Sri Lanka in November, why the hell should this woman be going over to the USA??. Looks like they think by setting up Walt Disney in Hambantota, the white elephant projects will come alive. Is this a plan for the Rajapakse's to come to power once again??. We know there has been and is a brain drain in Sri Lanka, but boy have the masses woken up from a bad dream and now fully charged, the sad part is it took so long for reality to sink in. Keep protesting until a general election is held. BrainDrain
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Kadu Karaya Monday, 24 October 2022 10:27 AM
If Disney put in many billions it will make current government extremely powerful. They can go back on all IMF expectations. Sri Lankan dual citizen in America who want to prevent Lanka government getting deal, can protest to Disney in USA. Already dual-citizen rights eroded with 21A/22A so all for US dual-citizens to gain by sabotage government attempts now.
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dulip Sunday, 23 October 2022 10:16 PM
add to the list of failed projects in Hambantota ports, stadium, conference hall, now Disneyland
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Priyantha Perera Sunday, 23 October 2022 10:57 PM
Really- We can't maintain electricity flow and or reasonable pricing for generator fuel. Half the time the visitors will be stuck halfway up a ride. Enough doing shit in Hambantota- Why dont we name it Rajagama- Jeese- cant we get these fools and their cronies out of our government. People open your eyes.. we went through 6 months of nastiness and many more to come with recovery being over 2-3 years if we are lucky.
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Projects must be according to the size of this country. Sunday, 23 October 2022 10:58 PM
Are you trying to waste our money like the port without ships and an airport without flights. All colossal money making projects only one family to make more and more wealth .
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Muhunthan(Walker) Sothilingam Thilagawathy Sunday, 23 October 2022 11:20 PM
Hope it’s not going towards building up filthy chinese and USA you stupids chase all the chimese from that land.
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Roshan samarathunga Sunday, 23 October 2022 11:20 PM
Excellent idea. The common folks need spend the much needed extra time in Disney land Sri Lanka to master debate unelected president. We need young educated blood into his parliament. New elections please
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HUNTERGOD Sunday, 23 October 2022 11:57 PM
This will not fail, it will just not happen, free roundtrip first class travel and a good time in the US. Thats all.
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Sureshika Antony Monday, 24 October 2022 12:40 AM
Poor Srilankans are starving! Rich are boasting of platters , burgers, upcountry, downsouth outings etc. Now Gamege wants Disney land! Fill it up with donkeys with a special donkey headed Gamege statue at the entrance eating up money of starving poor of SriLanka. Oh Mother Lanka how idiots bleed you!
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Ram Monday, 24 October 2022 01:36 AM
If it is a project for the US Company to build use all income paying nominal tax for an agreed period and then hand over without any obligation on us to pay it should be OK. If it is on a loan like the MT projects we will be in further debt
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Economist Monday, 24 October 2022 01:55 AM
Can someone give two cents worth of advise to this woman please. No passengers to Mattala. Similarly there will be no visitors to Disney land in HAMBANTOTA. It will be a white elephant. Disneys will make market research thoroughly. This woman is going on a holiday to USA.
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Bandu Monday, 24 October 2022 05:00 AM
SL needs investments. Thats the only way for the country to develop. Sadly there are too many environmental nut cases, ready to scuttle countries progress.
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Kps Monday, 24 October 2022 05:40 AM
What a joke and political drama. Is Disney going take their profit in Dollars or Rupees. Politicians can orchestrate so many fantasies with our citizens in order divert the attention from the necessities.
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Shelly Belly Monday, 24 October 2022 05:58 AM
Dream on Disney Princess Diana. Has she been to Disney World? Like all American companies Disney has their business to a science. They will look at a map and say if this is feasible or not without wasting their time traveling to a bankrupt country run by a lawless government. Sri Lanka will not be able to meet the professionalism, safety and quality standards or the scale and scope of a theme park like Disney.
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HAD ENOUGH OF RAJAPAKSA STOOGES Monday, 24 October 2022 06:05 AM
My initial reaction was not to waste time on this hollow showboat a stooge . Reading the news item THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COMING HERE . SO WHEN EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS WHY SEND THIS WOMAN, LET THEM COME RW IS NOT OF THE INTELLIGENCE LEVELS OF THE CORRUPT FAMILY. HE WILL GET A PROPER EVALUATION AND GIVE PROMINENCE TO PRIORITY NEEDS.
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Fred Monday, 24 October 2022 06:07 AM
The country needs food medicine good schools.These should be the priorities andemployment opportunities for its citizens. As for tourism just clean the beaches provide clean toilets, the basics, they will come Oh Diana can't you see(opening lines of a famous song by Paul Anka) When will SL grow up.
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Allen Selwyn Monday, 24 October 2022 07:02 AM
Sri Lanka is already a Disney land! The people are dreaming and fantasising. A democracy with an unelected president. Our parliament is a fantasy land sorry bankrupt fantasyland. Before Disneyland, where is the plan to repay debt?
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They will not go! Monday, 24 October 2022 07:11 AM
This woman is an illegal immigrant, like the "Kalla Thoni" from India, She has to vacate her seat as MP. Yesterday I saw her saying she is entitled to stay on! What is this? Will some patriotic lawyers who speak about children's rights take the 10 dual citizens in Parliament to courts? They will not go, until they are booted out! What is the Speaker doing?
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Kps Monday, 24 October 2022 07:13 AM
This MP is crazy. She has so many fantasies. She is bringing Disney, legalizing Marijuana, I guess she is just fooling Srilankans
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Sambo Monday, 24 October 2022 07:29 AM
We are the first for everything in South East Asia. Even becoming beggars. Give the starving children a meal to eat with this waste of money. What a dumb decision by a dumb minister.
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VJ Monday, 24 October 2022 07:31 AM
Promote what Sri Lanka is famous for, beautiful green forest, serene beaches, mountains and valleys, friendly people, spicy food etc., there are many amusement parks in India catering for their population. Do what is appropriate for Sri Lanka. What works in the US may not work in Sri Lanka.
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Riyaz Rauf Monday, 24 October 2022 07:32 AM
It's a very good idea to get Disney or any other company to come and do business in SL. The issue is Disney should be talking to Sri Lankan businessmen and not politicians. This is yet another example of Politicians doing business and not politicians facilitating businessmen to do business. Politicians must govern and not be negotiating. Besides, We all must be donkeys to think that Disney will invest $ 16 billion in Sri Lanka. Come on, Wake up and have a coffee and talk a good walk .
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Johann Pieris Monday, 24 October 2022 07:40 AM
What a waste of 18 billion dollars and will be like mattala airport!! Honestly the Minister has no idea to make comments like this!!
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Lankan expat Monday, 24 October 2022 07:41 AM
This is a big joke. Before one thinks of creating Disney worlds, get real and give serious thought to putting "food on the table" for the thousands of poor Lankans who go to bed hungry. The island today, is a pathetic mess, thanks to the Clowns amongst the governing individuals who Carry on regardless.
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Citizen k Monday, 24 October 2022 07:51 AM
Pamela unfortunately the brain drain we have is the professionals are leaving .I look forward to the day when the brainless ,the crooked leave the island.That will call for celebration.
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citizen Monday, 24 October 2022 08:10 AM
If at all this project is approved, please don't forget to keep some space for the family who ruined the country, who also come from that area.
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S Lalindra Monday, 24 October 2022 08:23 AM
It is our money she is going to spend on her trips to US. Let her spend her own money till this get approved from Disney it self.
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Lokubanda Tillakaratne Monday, 24 October 2022 08:31 AM
Disney is not dumb enough spend that kind of money in SL when we line-up each morning at the CBO Harbor entrance for the sweet sight of an oil tanker to appear in the horizon. How in the world a tourist travels to Hambantota without patrol in the car?. Hydrogen?
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Chris Monday, 24 October 2022 08:47 AM
Good job Diana, I floated this idea to GR about 18 months back but no one was interested. If Disney comes to SL we will have a ten fold increase in tourism from India, Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh and even as far as from middle east and East Asia. Mattala will become viable. Yala, kumana will get more exposure. Definitely a few more international chains will put up hotels. It worth billions in tourism revenue per year on top of FDIs
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suriya Monday, 24 October 2022 08:51 AM
why do you need a Disney Land in Hambantota, we already have one in Colombo by the Diyawanna Lake
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Lost Lankan Monday, 24 October 2022 09:00 AM
Comes out of dream ideas. Ganja cultivation, Disney land. What about Dollar printing machine and a mental hospital all required in Hambantota
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sam Monday, 24 October 2022 09:17 AM
Good news at a time people are facing all shortages and unable to buy essentials and lack of forex.
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John Stewart Monday, 24 October 2022 09:28 AM
That is fantasy land thinking. You need a large population density for such a project - look where the current ones are - plus people with the money to spend at it. Hambantota has neither.
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dicki bird Monday, 24 October 2022 09:40 AM
Diana, We don't want you to get our forests raped for a Disneyland. Disney is only a name. Who has the money to visit Disney? What is your market? Is the CIA or Kaputa going to run it?
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S Weerakoon Monday, 24 October 2022 10:58 AM
This time who will get the commissions? Again a Helping Hambanthota.
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Sam Panditha Monday, 24 October 2022 11:22 AM
I think the Minister is on Ganja (cannabis) to even think about such a crazy idea. There are only 5 Disneylands in the World. USA two, Paris, Japan, Hong Kong and Shanghai. You need a minimum customer base of tens of millions to support such an expensive development. Sri Lanka even if we are the richest country- will not have such a customer base. This is just for a Government paid Disneyland trip to the Minister.
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Punchi Monday, 24 October 2022 02:47 PM
After some difficulty In grasping this, I finally think I have worked it out. A US Disney investment of 18 billion in Hambantota is strategic planning to prevent the obliteration of Hambantota port when the war between the US and its allies and China and its allies which includes us comes about.
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Basil Mrak Monday, 24 October 2022 03:14 PM
Already the hemp smoke is addling her brain.First it was a project in Mannar,now a project in Hambantota.I wonder what project she has for Jaffna and Batticalo.why don't you start a project to feed the hungry.There you will have my fullest support.
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Gamage Monday, 24 October 2022 03:31 PM
The dual citizen Diana Weedy Gamage is about to be kicked out of the parliament and she is hallucinating. We are doing wonderful as a nation and a nation where the government servants never pay a penny of income tax, and blood sucking the rest of the hard working community of the country. Disneyland?!!!
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Jagath K Monday, 24 October 2022 06:18 PM
Average ticket to visit Disney goes around US$125. now who can afford that in Sri Lanka.
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ROHINI WIJETILLEKE Monday, 24 October 2022 09:10 PM
Are you kidding? People are starving and,malnourished and you are thinking about Disneyland. Get real and use all resources to feed the hungry . This is "If you do not have bread eat cake.
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Anthony Fernando Monday, 24 October 2022 11:03 PM
This woman is looking to get a free ride to the US at the expense of Sri Lankans. She'll bring her family and sidekicks and go to disneyland with comped entrance tickets. What a ride. While you are at it look into sending a moon rocket from Hambanthota.
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“ The Lansi Burgher Gent “ Tuesday, 25 October 2022 05:26 PM
I think we’re losing the plot completely. We need to cut down expenses, save and invest wisely in our own tea plantations and other sectors that generate not only income in foreign currency, but jobs alike. Not trying to be a puss-case, but we have bigger fish to fry now than worrying about Disneyland and that too in Hambantota. Was there any feasibility study conducted by a neutral and most importantly; a credible institution on such a project? Probably not. Get the priorities right, invest in saving what little natural beauty we have left here (as those are diminishing fast) by promoting our wildlife and nature reserves/game parks and conserving them. A tourist comes here for the natural beauty, not for something he can enjoy back home. Look at Tahiti, Fiji, Seychelles, Mauritius and the likes. Copy them. Simple.
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Lokubanda Tillakaratne Wednesday, 26 October 2022 05:56 AM
This woman is out of her mind. A Disneyland ticket is priced at $143.00 in the US. (Rs. 52195). She thinks Disney is a city carnival with rides and amm-no-pappa-no whistles and baloon-popping shows. She thinks Disney will bring their hardware and set up a billion dollar carnival in Hambantota and distribute placards (flyers) all over the country asking for people to come. Does she have any idea how investors (a la Disney) review the underpinnings of an billions dollar project?
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DON HARRISON WIJAYAPALA HAPUARACHCHI Monday, 31 October 2022 01:42 AM
More night clubs and legalised prostitution in this land that Buddha visited 3 times?
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Micky Mouse Tuesday, 01 November 2022 08:06 AM
Why do we have to go for one more? We are already living in Disneyland!!!!
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