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Sri Lanka: Lost in the sounds of the wilds

By Lankika de Livera, Pix by S. Srikumar

The Ginisapu trees and the different varieties of mango were all in fruit in the garden. The Ginisapu berries hung in bunches and clusters – a gorgeous sight not only for us but also for the other creatures that feast on them.

As we sat on garden chairs on the sprawling lawn, sipping coffee around five in the evening, the Sapu tree was engulfed by screeching raucous flocks of Alexandrine parakeets.

The majestic Green Imperial pigeons were also feeding on the tree, as were the Orange-breasted Green pigeons and the Pompadour Pigeons. It was a gorgeous sight, a joyous experience to hear this orchestra of bird calls.

Next to the Sapu tree was a vilad mango tree, with bunches of luscious ripe fruit and this was simultaneously taken over by the Lorikeets (The Ceylon Hanging Parrots). Adding to the symphony was the distinct calls of the peacocks flying on to the trees just close by.

In the other mango trees the Iora was singing, alongside the rich warbling sounds of the White Browed Bulbul. Soon another visitor alighted on the magical Sapu tree. It was the Grey Horn Bill. On another part of the tree was a furry chocolate brown and tan Giant Squirrel dangling from a branch.

We were at Beragama, three km from Mulatiyana in a remote area of Matara, at the Eco Jungle Hideout. This holiday home has several bedrooms and a dormitory for bigger groups. It sits atop a hill with a commanding view of the surrounding forest, the property bordering the Mulatiyana forest reserve.

At the back are about open-air six showers, so one can have a bath looking out on the forest. The toilets, facing another direction of the forest have no doors.

In two of the open toilets on the cement ceiling, we photographed the nests of the “Wehi Lihiniya” – the Common Swallow. These birds do not build nests with strands of straw and grass or sticks. They make little mud pellets and their nests resemble little mud igloos.

Cut off from civilization, the bird calls and faint trickling sounds of the faraway stream are the only sounds here. There was a television, but no one wanted to watch it.

In the night, from garden chairs we watched the awe-inspiring display of the galaxy. In the stillness of the night, the stars blinked and winked and once in a while an owl would hoot, breaking the silence.

The wind rustled the leaves on the trees to fan our faces. This is truly a place for those who love nature, to unwind, away from the cares of city life.

The Mulatiyana Forest Reserve covering some 2,562 hectares, has in addition to its abundant bird life -barking deer, mouse deer, pangolins, porcupines, sambhur, rusty spotted cats, wild boar, etc., according to K.K. Nanayakkara, Assistant District Forest Officer from the Matara Office of the Forest Department.

How to get there

The Eco Jungle Hideout – Mulatiyana, about 178 km from Colombo is best reached via Matara (a much better road than from Galle).

From Matara, get to Akuressa, then to Makandura. Turn left before Mulatiyana and come to Raneweerage Watte Estate.

Website – www.ecojunglehideout.com

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Sri Lanka

‘Dalmanuta’ : Leisure and health go hand in hand

By Sanath Weerasuriya, Pix by Nilan Maligaspe

‘Dalmanuta’ is a luxury Ayurvedic Spa Resort situated in the peaceful residential area of Warapitiya by the Benthara River in Aluthgama off Mathugama Road. ‘The name Dalmanuta is borrowed from the Bible and it was the place where Jesus went to rest.

Repeating the same theory, we created Dalmanuta to rest and of the well being of the people’ said Peer Franzen, the Swedish proprietor of this unique hotel.

This four acre property was originally densely grown and mostly a swamp. The beautiful garden with its unique herbal garden and its ample wildlife was constructed with help from Sri Lanka’s top garden architect, Donald de Silva.

In the Dalmanuta herbal garden, there are more than 200 different medical plants and some of the organic vegetables that used in the restaurant. Apart from this unique nature garden, Dalmanuta has nine separate suites, an Ayurvedic Spa, restaurant and river frontage for all water sports activities.

All rooms have a spacious bathroom with high pressure, non-chlorine water from resort’s own well.

The most unique feature of the room is its bathroom, which is built with Swedish touch. The ensuite bathrooms have twin vanities, three with bathtubs and six with `massage’ showers.

Every suite is equipped with a satellite TV offering a wide selection of interesting channels.

There are also 400 DVD films to choose from in the reception. Dalmanuta is a big nature park offering a rich wildlife, herbal garden and ponds with fishes and islands for meditation.

There are two pools, one for diving and swimming and one eight seat Jacuzzi in the shadow of a rose hedge that also functions as a children’s pool.

The Benthara River offers many beautiful sights and hotels boats will take guests on trips up the river or down to the long sandy beaches at its mouth where water sports lovers can find most types of water sports.

‘Water sports include scuba diving, snorkelling and windsurfing. Bentota’s lagoon is ideal for jet skiing, water skiing, banana-boating and sailing’ said Peer Franzen.

The design of the hotel is aimed at giving all its guests space and time for themselves, for healing and growth, but with service and comfort close by.

The Ayurvedic wellness centre at Dalmanuta is overlooked by an experienced Ayurvedic physician who also has her private medical practice nearby in the village.

Relaxing massages, herbal baths, and body wraps take place in a separate area of the gardens in cooling wattle-and-daub huts with thatched roofs. Medicinal plants used for some of the therapies are grown extensively in the tranquil medicinal gardens where hours can be spent walking past ponds and waterways.

The other attraction of Dalmanuta is its informal open-sided riverside restaurant. The resort is famous for its seafood, Sri Lankan cuisine for overseas visitors, also attracting regular customers from non-resident visitors who come by boat to feast on fresh lobster, prawns and crab. Western cuisine is served here.

‘The food is an important part of our health treatment and right food is a must during the treatment. The treatment plan will include diet advices to be followed, while in Dalmanuta and maybe also when you get back home again. Based on your diagnosis, the kitchen and the doctor will put together a frame menu’ said head chef Athula Keerthi.

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Sri Lanka

Serendib Lounge for Sri Lankan Fly SmiLes members

Members of SriLankan Airlines’ customer loyalty programme FlySmiLes can now pamper themselves at the elegant Serendib Lounge at Colombo ’s Bandaranaike International Airport.

Reputed as one of Asia ’s finest airport lounges, the Serendib had hitherto been reserved for SriLankan’s Business Class passengers. Based on an initiative by FlySmiLes it is now accessible to members travelling Economy Class on SriLankan, including those in transit, All the member needs to do is redeem a mere 2,000 Miles (points).

The lounge provides a panoramic view of the airport’s apron, with a floor to ceiling viewing glass. It has the latest in luxury such as specially designed armchairs that recline and swivel, separate rest areas with fully reclining Lazy Boy armchairs for passengers with longer transit times, showers, general seating, and a separate smokers’ room. For entertainment, there are two theatre-style giant TV screens with individual headphones at each seat. The lounge also provides convenient communications facilities including a phone booth and personal computers with Internet access. The buffet includes both hot and cold foods and there’s a full range of beverages and a selection of specialty teas and coffees.

FlySmiLes known as “The Frequent Flyer Programme that Rewards & Delights”, has partnered with no less than ten major companies to provide a wide range of exciting rewards for its members worldwide. Members earn Miles through FlySmiLes’ co-branded credit cards (American Express Platinum, and Standard Chartered Gold and Classic), communication facilities (Travelling Connect and Dialog Telekom), international air travel (Malaysia Airlines and Etihad Airways), domestic air travel (Deccan Aviation), hotels (Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces), car rentals (Hertz), and spas (Siddhalepa).

Those who use a FlySmiLes co-branded credit card to purchase an air ticket on SriLankan or any of the partner airlines will earn Miles for the transaction, and also when flying, giving them the opportunity to earn Miles twice!

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Sri Lanka

Members of famous sea anglers’ clubhouse in Trinco lost…

By Natasha Fernandopulle

A chapter closed for the Ceylon Sea Anglers’ Club (CSAC) last month as they bade a sad goodbye to their beloved clubhouse in Clappenberg Bay, Trincomalee.

The CSAC was founded in 1934 by a group of fishing enthusiasts. Then members consisted mainly of British tea planters and those from the capital’s mercantile sector.

“It was a varied and diverse club with sailing and yachting,” says Ruan Dayananda, Secretary CSAC. “People used to even fly their sea planes here – it was a hive of activity!” Whale and dolphin watching started in the 1980’s in Kodiyar Bay, Trincomalee, in association with NARA who have an office close by, long before it became popular in the South, he added.

Back in the early days, the club had permission to use all the lighthouses around the island as bases for fishing expeditions. Their permanent base was a wooden structure near the Beruwela Lighthouse on Barberyn Island. The CSAC moved to Clappenberg Bay in 1946, after World War II.

The British East India Fleet as well as an airstrip for the Fleet Air Arm was established in China Bay, Trincomalee, at the beginning of World War II. The Dutch were among the many nationalities that made up the British force and hence a separate Mess was built for the Dutch officers at Clappenberg Bay. When World War II ended, the CSAC obtained the use of this Mess as their permanent clubhouse. The building was owned by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and a 99-year lease was granted to the CSAC.

The Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCAF) was established in the late 1950’s and the land surrounding the China Bay airfield was taken over by the RCAF, unknown to club members. The result? In the mid 1970’s, the CSAC was informed that they were “squatting” on Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) property and had to enter into a “squatters’ agreement” with the SLAF which continued until 2005. Valid documents on the lease in the 30 years prior to the squatters’ agreement had been lost due to the Trincomalee Kachcheri being razed to the ground in the 1983 riots. In addition, a cyclone which hit the bay in 1977 resulted in the loss of most of their original documents dating from 1939 – 1974.

“The lease signed in 2005 was a 15-year renewable one which could be terminated at any point,” said Jonathan Martenstyn, President CSAC. And so it happened when the club was given notice by the SLAF in January this year, citing security reasons, and asked to move out by April 25, 2009.

Commenting on the termination of the lease, Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, said, “It’s based on security reasons. Security does not relax with the war coming to an end.” He also stated that in the present context, a specific time line cannot be placed with regard to renewing the lease.

Club officials, however, are hoping there will be a change of heart. “The CSAC currently has a membership of around 500 with around 300 active members and it is one of the few resident-angling clubs in the world,” says Mr. Dayananda. “Moreover it is the only anglers club in Sri Lanka recognised by the International Game Fishing Association in Florida USA.”

From the breathtaking location, to its relaxing atmosphere, to the amazing food – the crab curry in particular, the members have many memories. “This is where people have caught their first fish or their biggest fish,” says Mr. Martenstyn. “It’s a beautiful spot, it’s paradise.”

The CSAC celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. “We had planned a number of activities to develop the club to what it was in the grand old days,” says Mr. Martenstyn. “But now we are at major crossroads. Still our members will stand by the club and we want to move the club forward so it can be there for another 75 years,” he said.

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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Top award for doctor of the wilds

By Kumudini Hettiarachchi

A novel solution to the human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka — under which chena cultivators, the worst enemies of these majestic creatures, are being mobilized for their conservation in a pilot project in the south of the country — hit the world’s centre-stage last week with the “mastermind” being awarded a top grassroots nature conservation prize.

At a colourful ceremony on Wednesday night, Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando, Chairman of the Centre for Conservation and Research (CCR) who has been studying elephants for many years, was honoured with the Whitley Award along with a grant of £ 30,000 donated by the Shears Foundation.

The award “recognizing his efforts to protect wild Asian elephants by better balancing their need to range outside of tight ‘protected zones’ with the needs of paddy farmers whose lives can be devastated by a single crop raid” was presented by Britain’s Princess Anne at the Royal Geographical Society in London, before an audience of 400 distinguished guests including leading environmentalists.

“This award really is a tribute to the people of Sri Lanka, whose benevolent attitude towards wild animals has enabled the survival of over 5,000 elephants amidst 20 million people in a land area of only 65,000 Km2,” said Dr. Fernando in an e-mail interview with The Sunday Times from London.

“It also recognizes the progressive outlook of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), Sri Lanka, which has been an equal partner in the collaborative research conducted by CCR, and the CCR team of scientists who have untiringly worked towards conservation over the past two decades,” he said.

Commenting on Dr. Fernando’s success, Edward Whitley who founded the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) and chaired the judging panel has said: “The aim of the Whitley Awards is to find and support conservation scientists whose vision, passion, determination and qualities of leadership mean they are achieving inspirational results in conservation. They are helping to build a future where nature and people co-exist in a way that benefits both. In Pruthu’s case, we were especially impressed that his project is using an innovative science-backed approach to explore new ways for elephants and people to live together.”

The Gold Award from WFN, the UK-based charity which administers the international awards programme and £ 60,000 went to a health and conservation programme in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for villagers and their wildlife neighbours, the endangered mountain gorillas.

The other 2009 winners, in addition to Dr. Fernando, selected from among 100, were projects in India (to reduce conflict between people and wildlife including tigers); Kenya (to improve understanding of the vital role insects play in crop pollination and encourage more sustainable methods of agriculture); Thailand (to reduce conflict among people, wild elephants and domestic cattle); and Bulgaria (to offer greater protection to thousands of wild migratory birds).

In a double winning streak for Sri Lanka, conservationist Ravi Corea secured a £ 10,000 Associate Award, once again to resolve the human-elephant conflict by improving land use practices in areas shared by wild jumbo herds and people.

“The aim of the Whitley Awards is to identify the world’s most dynamic conservation leaders and support them in practical work that benefits both wildlife and local communities,” stated a press release issued by WFN from London, adding that the first award was given in 1994 to a single winner. To be considered for a Whitley Award, entrants need to display both a strong track record in science-based conservation work and a viable plan for taking their work further.

That is what Dr. Fernando, a medical doctor who is now pursuing his passion for elephants and their conservation, has been striving to achieve, working closely with the DWC. The efforts to get seasonal cultivators in the south of Sri Lanka involved in conservation were reported by The Sunday Times way back on March 4, 2007.

These efforts came in the wake of a ‘National Policy for the Conservation and Management of Wild Elephants’ largely driven by scientific research findings, formulated by the DWC in 2006, in coordination with a committee of scientists, academicians and managers, under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, The Sunday Times understands.

“The new policy takes a practical and science-based approach to elephant conservation and mitigation of the human-elephant conflict and envisages maximizing the area elephants can use, through integrating existing land-use practices beneficial to elephants with elephant conservation. It also hopes to reduce the impact of the human-elephant conflict on people who share a habitat with elephants. This approach has the potential to find a long-term solution to the human-elephant conflict and conserve elephants,” Dr. Fernando adds.

All about the project

Elephants like disturbed or secondary habitats such as seasonal cultivations and cannot live in dense forests because they cannot reach the thick canopy to get their food while the undergrowth is too sparse for their fodder, scientific research and knowledge garnered over the years have revealed.

With villagers already engaging in seasonal cultivations in areas where there are elephants in the south, the experiment that is on there is attempting to prove that human and jumbo can co-exist, it is learnt.

The seasonal cultivations last about four to five months with crops cultivated around mid-October with the harvests gathered in January-February. The elephants, however, have a lot of food outside the cultivation areas in the rainy season when crops will be protected against destruction by erecting a simple electric fence, The Sunday Times understands. After the harvest, the cultivation areas are left to the elephants while the cultivators go in search of manual labour as they do routinely.

This pilot project hopes to move away from programmes where elephant conservation and mitigation of the human-elephant conflict has been based on restricting elephants to protected areas, it is understood.

“Research has shown that this approach is fundamentally flawed,” says Dr. Fernando explaining that the extent of the protected areas that the elephants are to be restricted to is far less than the area from which elephants have to be removed. “Two-thirds of elephants live outside DWC-protected areas even today.”

Another factor that the research has shown is that most protected areas to which elephants are restricted, are sub-optimal for them because they are mature forests and are already at their carrying capacity for elephants. Adult male elephants mainly responsible for the conflict cannot be easily limited to protected areas and their translocation often leads to an increase in the human-elephant conflict because they either return to where they were captured from or range over wide areas looking for a way back, according to Dr. Fernando.

Meanwhile, elephant herds composed of females and young cause far less conflict, but suffer very high injury and death when restricted to protected areas. Attempting to force more and more elephants to protected areas and restricting them there, results in the escalation of the human-elephant conflict and death of elephants, the research had found.

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Australia

Dining with the devils – Australia Tourism News

The Tarkine has been called Australia’s last forgotten wilderness, stretching across 450,000 hectares from the Arthur River in the north to the Pieman River in southern Tasmania.

The Murchison Highway in the east and the coast complete its boundaries.

As well as the stunning coast it contains the second largest temperate rainforest in the world, and the largest in the southern hemisphere.

The name Tarkine is not on many maps, because for years the State Government wanted to log rather than market it.

Conservationists claim local tourism operators were not allowed to use the name, with the Government preferring the less romantic Savage River Pipeline corridor forest.

Now the Government has embraced it and hopes to develop it as a huge tourist drawcard, up there with places like Kakadu.

It believes the best way to do that is to build a road through its northern fringe, with at least six kilometres going through virgin rainforest.

The plans are causing a huge row in Tasmania and are becoming as divisive as the plans to log it.

The Government says the loss of the forests will be more than offset by extra reserves and that the road will attract tourists from all over the world.

But many tourism operators do not want the road, saying it may even detract from the area and conservationists claim it will open the area up to further logging.

Others say it will make the area accessible to hundreds of thousands of people and give the north west a huge tourist draw card.

We went to speak with the sceptics and the supporters and the trip gave us an opportunity to sample some of the unique attractions the region has to offer.

Such as filming a myrtle tree, surrounded by bright psychedelic fungi and a rich forest, which the locals claim is 1,000 years old and one of the biggest in Tasmania.

Another highlight was travelling to the coast and meeting up with farmer turned tourism operator Geoff King (he prefers Joe King as in joking), who runs a unique business collecting road kill and feeding it to Australia’s largest marsupial predator, the Tasmanian devil.

After some serious off road slogging through the dunes, we reach the coast and Joe’s lonely beach hut where he takes the tourists.

It is surrounded by jagged rocks that rear up out of the ocean.

Feeding time

The rugged beauty of the place created a feeling like you are at the end of the earth, but the serenity was soon disrupted by a grisly act.

In preparation for the evening’s entertainment, Joe staked out a wallaby collected earlier, so tourists could gather just metres away and watch as the devils feasted in this unique kitchen.

As well as the wild coastline, Joe showed us some of the area’s Aboriginal history.

He says it is one of the richest archaeological sites in the world and you do not have to look hard to find the remains of the people who lived here for thousands of years.

We found a hut depression on the edge of the coast; it was a powerful experience.

Eventually though we had to push on to Corinna on the southern fringe of the Tarkine.

It is an old mining ghost town that has been converted in an eco tourism venture.

Accomodation is in a pub that was built in the 1870s when people were flocking here trying to strike it rich during the gold rush.

Overnight it gets down to around zero degrees and even with too much wine and a fire, it’s bloody freezing.

The pub has been in the wild rainforest for around 130 years, and the draughts let the cold wind through, but any complaints are forgotten when the morning light exposes the region’s dramatic beauty.

We walk down to the lush banks of the Pieman River for a cruise up its still waters.

The morning mist is slowly burning off and as we chug up the river in the boat, the sun reveals the lush river banks with their thick ancient rainforests of Myrtle, Huon Pine and Sassafras, including a Huon the guide reckons is 2,000 years old.

When we interview him I am so cold my brain feels like it has frozen over and I start the interview by calling him Brett (real name Craig).

After getting a great interview and some stunning pictures of the river we begin our long drive back to Hobart to put the story together.

Travelling through the Tarkine was an incredible experience.

Even though you probably will not be able to find it on a map, it is a place that is well worth a visit, and it is easy to see why both sides are so passionate about its future.

For more on this story, watch The 7.30 Report, ABC1, May 13 2009.

Courtesy: ABC News

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka tourism looks to roar again

Sri Lanka, always considered as an exotic, must-see destination by travellers despite the scourge of terrorism marring the beautiful island nation, is gearing up to boost its tourism sector, which is the fourth largest foreign exchange earner for the country.

Faiszer Musthapha, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Sri Lanka, told Emirates Business: “It is a sad thing that terror is a global phenomenon in today’s world and you can be in the wrong place at the wrong time anywhere in the world. We are in the final phase of conflict. The Tigers have been caged, and restricted to a four-km area in North Lanka. They are using a human shield of 6,000 people to stop us from going in. As we work on a no- civilian casualty basis we have slowed down our efforts for now, but we will do it expeditiously. The Tigers have lost their teeth and the LTTE is not in any position to hurt anyone anymore. Peace is dawning and Sri Lanka is as safe as any other country in the world.”

Talking about the impact the activities of the LTTE and the economic recession had on Sri Lankan tourism, Musthapha said: “Tourism is the fourth largest foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka and the earnings from tourism make up two to three per cent of our GDP. Last year whatever the Tigers did had an impact on tourism and created a very negative perception. Also, this was compounded by the economic recession. Whereas in the past the number of tourists arriving in the country had gone up to more than 600,000 [per year]. Last year it was more in the region of 400,000 to 450,000.

“We would certainly like to boost the numbers given the new dawn of peace that we are experiencing, but given the present economic crisis we will be happy if we can sustain last year’s numbers. We are being realistic as globally tourism is declining and all nations are looking at sustainability.”

Given the new-found peace, the island nation is raring to give its tourism sector a boost, and a number of initiatives have been launched for this.

One of them is the new brand, which was launched during the recent Arabian Travel Market 2009 exhibition in Dubai, with a new tagline and logo. The new tagline, “Sri Lanka Small Miracle”, will replace the current “Sri Lanka, Land like No other”.

As part of the communication campaign, many promotions, road shows and press conferences have been planned across the 15 cities in 10 countries – a move that is expected to attract and generate more tourists into the island.

As a result all communication materials have been revamped. The website has been re-launched with a new look and feel in keeping with the brand strategy. Brochures with eight different themes unique to Sri Lanka, posters, stationery and memorabilia have been revamped in addition to the new print and electronic campaign that would be seen in prominent international trade magazines as well as TV campaigns.

Destination representation companies have been appointed in key markets – namely in the Middle East, France, Germany, Russia and India to implement the creative execution of the new brand positioning.

Giving more insight into the country’s efforts to boost tourism, Musthapha said: “Earlier tourism and all decisions and policies related to it were dictated by the government and the Ministry of Tourism. Recently, a new Act was passed that has brought in private sector participation as well. So all stakeholders involved in tourism like the Tourism Development Authority, aviation etc are now involved in the decision-making process and working closely with the government to make Sri Lanka a preferred tourism destination.

“This rebranding is also part of this process. With the onset of peace we have decided to rebrand ourselves as a miracle offering as development is now taking place in the areas that were earlier ravaged by war. Sri Lanka is a small island boasts of a huge diversity. Be it beaches, hills, wildlife, one of the unfathomable mysteries of Sri Lanka is how it manages to squeeze so many different features and cultures in such a small country. So we decided to rebrand ourselves as a ‘small miracle’ as no other tagline would be apt for the country.

“Despite the economic downturn we hope to see an upturn in Sri Lanka’s tourism in the next six months because of these efforts and also because Lanka is positioning itself as a value for money destination during these times when money is tight.”

Talking about the country’s plans for wooing tourists from the GCC, he said: “We have a large number of tourists coming in from the GCC, despite the fact that we have invested in this region only in the past three years. We have been focusing on the West for the past 30 to 40 years. We have seen a 30 per cent growth in tourism from the GCC last year and the year before that.

“Our efforts to woo people from this region are part of our strategy to rope in more short-haul tourists as the Western market is down. The number of tourists from other countries was down by 10 per cent last year. We are trying to learn from Malaysia and Thailand and replicate it in Sri Lanka.”

Asked if the country will also try to get on the medical tourism bandwagon, Musthapha said: “No, we are not focusing on medical tourism right now, but we are more intent on the Wellness part of it.

“Wellness is a growing industry globally as well as here and we are focusing on the Ayurvedic side of it because it is a part of our roots and tradition. We have a name for it as it is practiced here extensively and we are now building on this reputation.”

Source: Emirates Business 24/7

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Sri Lanka

Vast potential for Tourism in post-war Sri Lanka

Jetwings to rebuild Manal Kadu

Sri Lanka’s travel industry is hopeful that tourism will flourish in the post-conflict period and would contribute significantly to Sri Lanka’s economy.

Speaking to The Nation Economist, Managing Director of Jetwings Hotel and President of Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL), Hiran Cooray said that the tourism industry would be the biggest beneficiary of the end of hostilities.

“Fighting will end soon, and so the travel trade will become the biggest gainer until it becomes a significant contributor to the country’s GDP. The industry is slowly beginning to increase, and we believe that Sri Lanka would be able to gain a level playing field in global tourism.” Cooray said.

“The East seems to have much potential for tourism, and this would enable the improvement of the livelihood of the people of Eastern Province. We too have earmarked a location in Nilavalei, Trincomalee, for our Manal Kaadu (Sand Forest) Resort.” He further said, “We commenced construction work on this Rs 200 million project during the peace time. Although we spent about Rs 40 million, we had to abandon it with the resumption of hostilities in 2005.”

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau is to launch a global promotion campaign under a new brand this year. SLTPB hopes social activation and the engagement process involving Sri Lankan citizens in the making of the new brand could be an added boost. It also believes that as the conflict between the LTTE and government forces is rapidly nearing its end, the re-branding of Sri Lanka could not come at a better time. SLTPB is to revamp all its communication material including the website, brochures, posters, and audio visual material, to this end, while a range of memorabilia is be introduced under its new brand strategy. Sri Lanka is also hopeful of launching a global electronic media branding campaign via international television stations CNN, BBC, Travel & Living, Discovery, and Al Jazeera.

Under its local activation campaign named ‘Making of the Small Miracle’ Sri Lanka Tourism hopes to engage locals and encourage them to feel part of the initiative of revitalising tourism in post-conflict era. To this end, the SLTPB organises Hikkaduwa and Negombo Beach Festivals, Kandy Festival, Tea Festival and Jazz Festival and also hopes to promote several key events such as the Galle Literary Festival, the Colombo Fashion Week, the Colombo- Galle Regatta, and the Colombo Marathon in a bid to attract more tourists to the country. (SF)

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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: More than just golden beaches

Sri Lanka is an island famed for its golden sandy beaches stretching for hundreds of miles, shaded by palm trees and cool crystal-clear waters.

But scratch underneath the surface, and there’s a wealth of treasures to be found on the interior of the island, making this a hot destination in more ways than one.

The island is home to the relaxing wellness techniques of Ayurveda, and there are plenty of ways to spoil yourself after a hard day searching for ancient treasures. Ayurveda spas are easily found in most hotels, and provide a holistic approach derived from 3,000 years of natural treatments.

You’ll be steam-cleaned, rubbed with herbal oils and receive spine-tingling head massages after which you can pick your spot on the miles of empty beach and simply watch the sun disappear into the ocean.

For the more active, there are plenty of sights along the coastline including the colonial town of Galle. With its impressive fort and huge bastions, the fascinating glimpse of Ceylon of yesteryear within narrow streets, atmospheric old villas and churches is fascinating.

For wildlife enthusiasts there is no better place to see the Sri Lankan locals: the elephants. These loveable creatures are easy to find. For the closest experience you should visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage for an up, close and personal view of the largest land mammal.

Heading inland, there’s an array of UNESCO world heritage sites dotted around the island. The dramatic Sigiriya Rock’s imposing shadow over the plains of the cultural triangle transports you back to the time of ancient kings. After a thigh-burning climb to its 200metre-high summit lie the 1,500 year-old remains of the royal palace of King Kasapa. Pausing halfway to admire the vivid frescoes, the final effort of the climb takes you through the giant lion’s paws protecting the blustery peak as the best vantage point in Sri Lanka unfolds in front of your very eyes.

Close by are the ancient cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, once thriving ancient capitals of Sri Lanka.
Polonnaruwa’s creeper-clad temples are best explored by bike, taking time to discover every corner of the vast complex.

In Anuradhapura you’ll find the island’s oldest stupa, as well as the Sri Maha Bodhi tree – grown from a cutting taken from the famous bodhi tree beneath which Buddha attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago.

With the Dambulla Caves a short drive away, you can easily get lost in Sri Lanka’s impressive past.
Carpeted in lush rolling jade hills, a couple of scenic hours south of Kandy lie Sri Lanka’s famous tea estates. The journey to the hill station of Nuwara Eliya can be done either by train or by road, each providing stunning panoramas of the valleys below.

Amid the landscape colonial-era hill stations deliver a glimpse in a bygone era when the British resided here.
Nowadays, the influence is as strong as decades ago, with the area fittingly named ‘Little England’.
With the temperature dropping to a cool 14 degrees, sipping some of the best tea in the world fresh from the gardens is an experience not to be missed.

Manytour operators are currently offering great ‘2 for 1’ deals to the island from £799 for two people, including direct flights and seven nights accommodation on an all-inclusive basis.

As an additional bonus, holidaymakers are also able to visit some of the island’s most popular tourist attractions including the famous Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage and four UNESCO World Heritage sites for half-price.

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COMPARE AND BOOK HOTELS IN SRI LANKA FROM 30+ TOP SITES – HERE!

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New Zealand

Christchurch Clearview Lodge named top place to stay in…

A magazine published by the Japanese Tourism Bureau has named Christchurch Clearview Lodge the best place to stay in New Zealand.

Rurubu serves as a travel guide for visitors to New Zealand and named Clearview alongside other luxury accommodation providers including Queenstown’s Millbrook Resort, Dunedin’s Corstorphine House and the Heritage Hotel & Spa du Vin in Auckland’s Mangatawhiri Valley.

Clearview Lodge owner Robin Clements said it was fantastic to be singled out for praise in such a highly regarded publication.

“We are just pleased to be recognised. It can be only good for our business and good for New Zealand tourism,” he said.

The magazine said Clements and his wife Sue were great hosts and that visitors could “totally relax surrounded by glossy greenery”.

“The lodge is located in about 10 acres of a winery. With hospitality and kindness overflowing from the hosts, they welcome you to their resort with smiles that touch the bottom of one’s heart,” the magazine wrote.

Sue Clements said the article – which is entirely in Japanese – was only brought to their attention when Japanese guests staying at the lodge alerted them to it.

“They brought the article with them and said ’you are number one’.”

She said she believed hosted accommodation such as that provided at Clearview Lodge provided visitors with a more personal experience than they might have at hotels.

“We do spend a lot of time with our guests and try to show them how we really live.”

In addition to providing accommodation, Clearview Lodge makes its own pinot noir and rose wine. A wide variety of produce – including cherries, feijoas, nectarines, peaches, blueberries and apples – is also grown on site.

The full list of accommodation providers mentioned in Rurubu magazine were:

* Clearview Lodge, Harewood, Christchurch
* Millbrook Resort, Queenstown
* Heritage Hotel & Spa du Vin, Mangatawhiri Valley, Auckland
* Corstorphine House, Caversham, Dunedin
* The Classic Villa, Christchurch
* Elm Tree House, Merivale , Christchurch
* The Dairy Private Luxury Hotel, Queenstown
* Queenstown House B&B Hotel, Queenstown
* Earnscliff, Devonport, Auckland