Besides a staggering Rs 222.3 million (US $ 1,950,000), the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) agreed to provide a host of other concessions including more than 2,600 free rooms and Customs waivers for the Indian International Film Awards (IIFA) ceremony held in Colombo.
A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between the SLTPB and Wizcraft International Entertainment Ltd., which held the franchise for the events, was obtained by the Sunday Times. It shows that the SLTPB agreed to provide presidential suites, two bedroom suites, one bedroom suite and single rooms free of charge. All meals for those sharing the suites and rooms were provided free after the menu was decided upon by the board in consultation with the franchise holder.
Also given free were 350 Business Class tickets, 300 Economy Class tickets and 100 additional economy class tickets (besides related expenses). These tickets were for flights to Colombo from Sydney, Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai among other destinations.
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The MoU has been signed on behalf of the SLTPB by its Chairman Eranga Basnayake and Managing Director Dileep Mudadeniya.
As is now known, most of the leading Indian actors and actresses did not turn up for the IIFA awards ceremony. A larger section of the local film artistes also did not take part.
Here are some of the highlights of the many concessions the SLTPB offered in terms of the MoU:
Airport Services
i. SLTPB shall provide the following services, at no cost to Wizcraft, for the IIFA Weekend and Awards related activities:
a. SLTPB shall provide necessary visas/visa waivers for IIFA Contingent and performers, dancers and crew working on the weekend. Wizcraft shall provide a list of all such people and those who will be required to stay in Colombo for more than 30 days. This list to be provided at least 2 weeks prior to arrival. However in such case where it is not possible to provide the names 2 weeks prior, the same will be provided prior to departure from India.
b. Express check in facilities at dedicated counters in Mumbai, Chennai and Colombo.
c. Group check in facilities in Mumbai, Chennai and Colombo.
d. Express VIP immigration procedures with usage of VIP lounge facilities in Colombo for identified IIFA Contingent.
e. Custom waiver for all goods being carried via commercial airlines for usage during IIFA Weekend and Awards 2010.
f. Special baggage screening and clearance in Colombo for IIFA Contingent.
g. Special baggage allowance for IIFA Contingent in India and Sri Lanka.
h. VIP meet, greet and assist with traditional welcome for IIFA Contingent in Colombo.
i. Special parking arrangements for vehicles dedicated to IIFA contingent movement at the airport to facilitate quick arrivals and departures.
A comprehensive list of requirements will be presented to SLTPB not later than 10 May 2010
Logistics
i. SLTPB shall provide the following to Wizcraft, free of cost:
a. Communications.
i. 300 Sim cards with a total top up value of 1000000 worth of top up value.
ii. 70-80 walkie talkies with minimum range of 1 km and with multi channels (subject to defence clearance)
b. Freight & Excess baggage.
i. 12 nos 40ft sea containers with door-to-door service, including custom charges and clearances, between Mumbai-Colombo -Mumbai and Chennai/Cochin-Colombo-Chennai/Cochin.
20000 kg excess baggage/cargo (as the requirement may be) to be air lifted from India to Colombo and back.
Sponsorship rights
No sponsorship rights are granted to SLTPB unless specifically granted in writing.
SLTPB Promotional Campaigns
Wizcraft may at its sole discretion allow additional promotional campaigns that SLTPB may want to implement with the sole intention of creating excitement, awareness and traffic to Sri Lanka. However it is expressly agreed by SLTPB that all such promotios will be implemented only after written approval given by Wizcraft, which shall not be unduly withheld subject to no cost for Wizcraft unless otherwise agreed by both parties.
Consideration
SLTPB shall provide Consideration of a fixed amount of USD $ 1,950,000/- (United States Dollar One Million Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand only) excluding any and all applicable taxes (i.e. including but not limited to taxes on income/withholding tax on income, other statutory levies, etc.). In case if taxes and levies (e.g. VAT, GST, Service tax, etc. by whatever named called) in Sri Lanka is chargeable by Wizcraft on the Consideration, SLTPB undertakes to additionally bear such taxes or arrange for its exemption for Wizcraft.
Event catering
SLTPB shall provide event catering, free of cost to Wizcraft, for all the events held during the IIFA Weekend 2010 at the location of such event and for the number of people outlined in the Event Schedule. The menus for such catering shall be designed by SLTPB/hotel/caterer in consultation with Wizcraft.
In-Suite F&B and Incidentals Payments
For the 75 nominated suites, all in-suite incidentals including but not limited to internet access (except as otherwise provided herein), and pay-per-view movies shall be provided free of charge by SLTPB.
In all other rooms, all in-suite dining and incidentals (except as otherwise provided herein or agreed upon at a later stage) including but not limited to telephone usage, internet access (except as otherwise provided herein) and pay-per-view movies etc consumed by hotel guests will be paid by such guests.
Indian Food
Indian food will be available 24 hours in all the hotels where IIFA Contingent and guests are staying
Laundry
All rooms to have complimentary regular laundry, dry cleaning or pressing services subject to a daily limit of 6 pieces per person. The daily limits will be accumulative and therefore unused amounts can be carried forward. Either the guest or Wizcraft will be responsible for settling any laundry bills in excess of the cumulative daily limit at the time of checkout.
Internet
A total of 65 rooms (to be identified by Wizcraft) will be provided with complimentary Internet access for the complete duration of occupation during the Event.
The Media Centre and IIFA Office for crew will have complimentary Internet access for the complete duration of the Event.
30 Identified IIFA staff rooms will have 24 hour complimentary internet facilities for the entire duration of the stay.
Spa Treatments
SLTPB will provide 150 free Spa treatments to Wizcraft during the Event.
Resort Packages
SLTPB will provide 150 free Resort Packages to Wizcraft during the Event. These packages will be for resorts in Sri Lanka which will be mutually agreed between the 2 parties
Hospitality Services
SLTPB shall provide the following for the IIFA Crew, free of cost
i. Vehicles and telephone cards
1. 4 Vehicles x 30 days (Mini Van or Cars) along with Rs. 1,000/= worth of calls per day for 10 pax.
2. 3 Vehicles x 200 days (Mini Van or Cars) along with Rs. 1,000/= worth of calls per day for 06 pax.
3. 4 Vehicles x 7 days (Mini Van or Cars) along with Rs. 1,000/= worth of calls per day for 21 pax.
4. 4 Vehicles x 14 days (Mini Van or Cars) along with Rs. 1,000/= worth of calls per day for 220 pax.
This is beside a fleet of 166 cars, super luxury sedans, luxury sedans, like Mercedes Benz, BMW, luxury buses and luggage vans, all free of charge.
Internet facilities will be provided by creating WIFI hotspots in Fashion Show, Premiere and IIFA Awards venues for the following:
5. Project Team: 75 pax for 10 days
6. Weekend: 75 pax for 5 days
7. Crew: 75 for 15 days
8. Media: 80 pax for 5 days
SLTPB agrees to indemnify Wizcraft and keep Wizcraft indemnified against any and all claims or liabilities arising out of any failure by the defaulting party to comply with the governing law in performing its obligations or exercising its rights mentioned in the Agreement and/or in respect of any breach, action, omission or negligence on the part of the defaulting party.
Lakshman Yapa, Wizcraft confirm invitation to President
President Mahinda Rajapaksa was invited as chief guest for the mega International Indian Fiilm Academy (IIFA) awards last week but chose to decline for security reasons, Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene told the Sunday Times.
However, according to Wiz Sabbas Joseph, Director Wizcraft International Entertainment which organized the event, the President was not slated to be the chief guest as reported by some papers, but acknowledged that he was invited.
“We met the President and handed over the invitation but the President didn’t commit himself to coming and he also noted that his security arrangements would make it a nightmare for the organizers,” he said.
Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi said he was invited for breakfast at the Temple Trees, but couldn’t attend. “No one woke up on time. It was a mistake in terms of understanding,” he said, referring to reports that the President was visibly annoyed that only a few people had been present at Temple Trees for breakfast on an invitation from the President.
Right of reply: Confusion over President’s no-show
Lucien Rajakarunanayake, Director Policy Research and Information at the Presidential Secretariat, reacting to the Sunday Times Late City edition lead news story last week has sent the following response.
“The lead news item in the Sunday Times today (June 06, 2010) titled “No show by President at IIFA” is wholly incorrect.
“The reference to the President’s absence at this event in the news item which states that ‘President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday kept away from the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards night at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium along with almost all of Sri Lanka’s cinema personalities’, is without any basis of truth as the President was not scheduled to be present at this event.
“There is also an attempt to seek credibility for this incorrect news item by stating that: ‘No formal reason was given for the President’s non-appearance despite his security detail being present at the venue last night’. The security detail present at the venue was that provided for the First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa.”
Our News Editor's Note: Unfortunately, the Director has not said when exactly or at what time of that day the President had decided not to attend the IIFA Awards ceremony. |
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