Visitors to Sri Lanka now have a series of international car rental brands to choose from, after Hertz made its debut in the country.

The company has signed a multi-brand franchise agreement with local firm Andrew The Car Rental Company, which will introduce Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty to Sri Lanka. These three brands are all now operating in Colombo, providing a fleet of self-drive vehicles and Hertz chauffeur services.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Andrew The Car Rental Company to The Hertz Corporation as our multi-brand franchisee in Sri Lanka,” said Michel Taride, group president of Hertz International. “Andrew’s local expertise and excellent customer service will help ensure the brands’ success in the country, where tourism is growing at a rapid rate.

“We continue to strengthen Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty operations in Asia, offering international travellers and locals alike high quality car rental options suitable for different budgets and needs,” he added.
Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty Sri Lanka will now be headed up by Mahen Kariyawasan, the company’s managing director.

“We intend to expand to the Colombo International Airport and another downtown location by early 2018,” Kariyawasan revealed. “Given that our country is experiencing booming tourism, growth in expatriate relocations and an increase in international investments, we truly believe that this new agreement will be exciting and rewarding for our customers and employees.”

Sri Lankan travellers will be offered short- and long-term car rentals, including self-drive and chauffeur-driven options, with a selection of vehicles ranging from compacts to estate cars, luxury cars, SUVs and minibuses. Hertz is the company’s premium brand, while Dollar is marketed as a “no-frills” option and Thrifty is targeted at “adventure seekers”.

All international customers renting with Hertz in Sri Lanka will receive a free SIM card.