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Mint
18-07-2025
- Mint
Spirits to Bring Home: What Indian tourists should buy in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam & beyond
Spirits to Bring Home: What Indian tourists should buy in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam & beyond 6 Photos . Updated: 18 Jul 2025, 06:22 AM IST Share Via From tropical sugarcane rums to Himalayan single malts, South and Southeast Asia are crafting spirits worth checking in your luggage. 1/6Thailand: Chalong Bay RumThailand's craft liquor scene has several delights, and Chalong Bay Rum is one of its brightest stars. Distilled in Phuket by a couple from France, this agricole-style rum is made from Thai sugarcane juice and distilled in a copper still imported from France's Armagnac region. Chalong Bay offersseveral variants, including a classic white rum, spiced rum infused with Thai herbs like lemongrass and kaffir lime, and seasonal flavours such as Thai sweet basil and cinnamon. Chalong Bay's rums are priced between THB 800 to THB 1200 (about ₹ 2,000 to ₹ 3,000), and it is available atretailers across the country. 2/6Sri Lanka: Ceylon ArrackArrack, one of the world's oldest distilled spirits, has been made and enjoyed in South Asia, including southern India, for well over 1000 years. While arrack is banned in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, the Sri Lankans, who still have copious amounts of it, have taken it to another level. Made by fermenting sap from the coconut palm, the liquid is thendouble-distilled and often aged in native halmilla wood casks. The result is a smooth libation with a subtly floral, pleasantly complex taste profile. Modern labels like Ceylon Arrack from Rockland Distilleries have given this traditional drink a contemporary edge. From the same company, youmight also come across Colombo No. 7 Gin, a crisp, cohesive spirit that uses botanicals like curry leaves, cinnamon, and ginger alongside classic juniper. Ceylon Arrack costs about LKR 25,000 ( ₹ 7,000) at local stores, while the gin, which makes infrequent appearances at Colombo duty-free, retails for about LKR 17,000 ( ₹ 4,800). 3/6Bhutan: K5 Himalayan WhiskyBhutan imports a lot of spirits from India, as well as from other countries, but they also make some interesting stuff of their own. Red Panda, a weiss beer, is one of them, and so is K5, which claims to be the first whisky blended and bottled in the country. Created to commemorate Bhutan's fifth – and current – king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the whisky is a blend of Scottish malt, Bhutanese grain spirits, and Himalayan spring water that is aged in ex-bourbon and Sherry casks. K5 retails for about BTN 800–1,200 ( ₹ 800– ₹ 1,200) depending on the store and city you purchase it in. 4/6Vietnam: Song Cai Single Malt WhiskyVietnam grows, imports, and consumes a lot of corn — and it's at the heart of Sông Cái 'single malt' whisky. The Hanoi-based distillery sources native corn varieties directly from Vietnamese farmers and uses both malted corn and nixtamalized corn, a traditional method that improvesdigestibility and flavour by soaking the grain in an alkaline solution. The grain mixture is fermented for one to six months, then distilled twice with the solids still present in a fire-heated pot still. The leftover grain is fermented again and distilled once more in a wood-fired alquitar, a traditional still of Spanish-Arab origin. The whisky undergoes a soleramaturation, half of it in ex-bourbon American oak casks seasoned with yellow rice wine, and half with sweet purple rice wine. If all of this sounds interesting – and if you are considering visiting Hanoi – drop a DM at @songcaidistillery to find out specifics. 5/6Indonesia: Keris Single MaltIndonesia is massive. The archipelagic country, which consists of over 17,000 islands, is especially famous for its Batavia Arrack, which is made from molasses in Java. But their first single malt whisky happened fairly recently – in fact, as recently as September last year. Keris Single Malt is made in Bali by the Pt Asti Dhama Adhi Mukti Distillery, and named for the traditional Javanese dagger. The whisky, which comes in an attractive bottle shaped like the namesake dagger, is made from locally sourced barley and matured in a mix of ex-bourbon and sherry casks. A bottle will cost around IDR 1.5–2 million ( ₹ 7,500– ₹ 10,000), and it's usually found at upscale liquor stores in Jakarta or Bali.
India.com
10-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
Starlink India Launch Big Update: Elon Musk's internet network gets approval to begin operation, services to begin from..., expiry date on...
Starlink India Launch BIG Update New Delhi: In a major development, Starlink has received final regulatory approval to launch its commercial broadband services in India. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has given an important approval to Elon Musk's satellite internet service. Starlink has now become the third satcom operator after Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and the Reliance Jio-SES joint venture, to receive all the necessary clearances for operating in the Indian market. Starlink's Gen 1 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, which comprises 4,408 satellites capable of delivering 600 Gbps throughput across India. It is important to note that last month, Starlink obtained its Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) permit. Starlink's India approval comes with an expiry date Starlink has cleared all the regulatory roadblocks. However, the company will have to wait for the full-scale commercial launch of its service. Notably, Elon Musk's internet service will have to procure trial spectrum and meet security compliances set by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) before being allowed to start its services commercially. Eutelsat OneWeb and the Jio-SES JV received their trial spectrums last year and they also received an extension of six months. Now both the operators are waiting for their final security compliance approval. DoT is also expected to soon finalize pricing and allocation rules for satellite spectrum, as per the TRAI's recommendations. TRAI has proposed an administrative allocation model with a 4 percent fee on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) for five years. Urban users may face an additional Rs 500 per subscriber annually, while rural users are exempt. What is Starlink's current exchange rate? Starlink is priced at Rs 3,430–4,280 (12,000–15,000 LKR) per month for residential connections, and Rs 4,280–8,560 (15,000–30,100 LKR) for portable 'roam' plans. The one time hardware equipment is priced at Rs 17,185–33,685 (60,200–1,18,000 LKR). The prices are roughly comparable to those announced for the other two South Asian countries.
India.com
06-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
Starlink Launch Big Update: THIS India's neighbour gain Elon Musk's Internet network, not Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, name is…
Starlink in Sri Lanka New Delhi: In a major development, Starlink, the satellite internet provider owned by billionaire Elon Musk, is now available in Sri Lanka. Elon Musk, SpaceX's founder and CEO, announced the service's availability in the country on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter. It is important to note that Sri Lanka is the third market to allow the service in South Asia after Bhutan and Bangladesh. In Asia, Starlink is already available in countries such as Mongolia, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Jordan, Yemen, and Azerbaijan. Starlink operates the world's largest constellation of satellites, with over 6,750 satellites currently in orbit. It provides high-speed, low-latency internet to millions of users across the globe, as per the company website. Starlink is awaiting regulatory approvals in all of India's neighbouring countries, except China: the firm has published a map showing it is awaiting clearances in Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. What is Starlink's current exchange rate? At current exchange rates, Starlink is priced at Rs 3,430–4,280 (12,000–15,000 LKR) per month for residential connections, and Rs 4,280–8,560 (15,000–30,100 LKR) for portable 'roam' plans. The one time hardware equipment is priced at Rs 17,185–33,685 (60,200–1,18,000 LKR). The prices are roughly comparable to those announced for the other two South Asian countries. Starlink in India: Notably, SpaceX's Starlink has cleared most of the regulatory and licensing requirements in India. With this development, Starlink has moved a step closer to launching its satellite internet services in the country. Elon Musk's satellite communications company received its licence from the Department of Telecommunications last month, nearly three years after submitting its initial application. Starlink in Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka had 21.5 million mobile broadband connections (the country classifies 3G and 4G connections under broadband), and 2.6 million fixed line broadband connections as of March 2025, according to the latest monthly report by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
In third South Asia launch, Starlink now in Sri Lanka
Starlink, the SpaceX-operated satellite internet service, is now available in Sri Lanka, the third market to allow the service in South Asia after Bhutan and Bangladesh. Elon Musk, SpaceX's founder and CEO, announced the service's availability in the country on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter. Parnil Urdhwareshe, Starlink's top executive in India, has played a role in at least two of the launches the company has managed in neighbouring countries: he had met Sri Lanka's presidential Adviser on climate change Ruwan Wijewardene last July. In 2023, Mr. Urdhwareshe also met with the then State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak in Bangladesh, shortly before trials for the service started in the country, according to a report in the Dhaka Tribune. At current exchange rates, Starlink is priced at ₹3,430–4,280 (12,000–15,000 LKR) per month for residential connections, and ₹4,280–8,560 (15,000–30,100 LKR) for portable 'roam' plans. The one time hardware equipment is priced at ₹17,185–33,685 (60,200–1,18,000 LKR). The prices are roughly comparable to those announced for the other two South Asian countries. Starlink has obtained a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) authorisation, a key regulatory requirement to operate in India, last month. However, it still needs orbital slot assignments from IN-SPACe, and allocation of spectrum from the Department of Telecommunications. The lag between this particular approval and services being available is not unprecedented — Sri Lanka granted Starlink a five year authorisation on August 12, 2024. As of March 2025, Sri Lanka had 21.5 million mobile broadband connections (the country classifies 3G and 4G connections under broadband), and 2.6 million fixed line broadband connections, according to the latest monthly report by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka. Starlink is also awaiting regulatory approvals in all of India's neighbouring countries, except China: the firm has published a map showing it is awaiting clearances in Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders to buy controlling stake in Colombo Dockyard
Colombo Indian government-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has announced its decision to buy controlling stakes in Sri Lanka's Colombo Dockyard in a $52.96 million deal. The proposed acquisition, MDL's first international venture, would give the Mumbai-based ship building yard 51 % equity in the Sri Lankan PLC that is grappling with persisting losses. A well-known ship repair, ship building, heavy engineering and offshore engineering facility in Sri Lanka, CDPLC has been saddled in debt over the years (over LKR 28 billion, or roughly ₹ 8 billion, in short and long term debt), Sri Lankan business newspaper the Daily Financial Times reported on Saturday (June 28, 2025), terming the Indian company's acquisition 'highly beneficial' for India and Sri Lanka. The transaction is expected to be completed in six months. 🔶#MDL is set to acquire a controlling stake in Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC), Sri Lanka's largest shipyard, in a deal worth up to USD 52.96 million. This marks MDL's first international in the Port of Colombo, CDPLC gives MDL a strategic foothold in the Indian… — Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (@MazagonDockLtd) June 27, 2025 'Located in the Port of Colombo, Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) gives MDL a strategic foothold in the Indian Ocean Region-- a key maritime corridor,' the MDL said in a statement. Colombo Dockyard was not immediately available for comment. Last year, Japanese company Onomichi Dockyard, which held majority stakes in Colombo Dockyard, decided to exit from the firm. Colombo 'urgently requested' New Delhi to 'encourage Indian investors' to consider investing in Colombo Dockyard fearing the implications of a default, according to official sources from the Indian side. As per the due process followed for a listed company, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd was shortlisted based on their experience in shipbuilding and financial strength, the sources said. The development, of an Indian company acquiring controlling stakes at the facility located within the Colombo Port, comes amid New Delhi's preoccupation with apparently growing Chinese outreach in the region. Over the last few years, India raised concern with Sri Lanka multiple times, over Chinese research vessel visits to its ports, prompting Colombo to impose a moratorium on foreign research vessels. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's government has said it would evolve a new national policy on the visit of foreign vessels. MDL is not the first Indian firm to enter the Colombo Port. In April this year, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited commenced operations at the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) that it is jointly developing with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Sri Lankan Conglomerate John Keells Holdings, adjacent to the China-backed Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) at the Colombo Port.
