SriLankan promotes surfing and travel at Arugam Bay

by Irangika Range

SriLankan Airlines (SLA) is at the forefront of promoting sports tourism into Sri Lanka as an alternative surfing destination to Maldives, Bali and Costa Rica for surfers has sponsored the SLA champion of champions BPSA surf competition for the second year in succession.

The competition was held from June 27 to 30 at Arugam Bay which is a world famous surfing paradise with its wild waves on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The BPSA (British Pro-Surf Association) and the TTAL (Travel and Tours Anywhere Limited) also assisted to sponsor the event which was held with over 50 local and UK professional surfers together with a number of Australian surfers in attendance.

This was the first international water based sport event which was held in Sri Lanka after the tsunami and the event was filmed and reported by over 30 UK journalists, TV and camera crew.

It would make the world aware that this island with its natural geographic placing is indeed the best springboard not only surfers but also entrants from abroad. The national airline will also plan to organise the world vent in Sri Lanka by carrying surfers from all over the world.

SLA Country Manager for UK, Ireland and Scandinavia Johann Wijesinghe said that the Arugam Bay was back to normal now after the tsunami. It is the obvious venue for the championship as waves here reach a height of fifteen feet or more, receiving the same swells that hit other world renowned surfing locations.

"We are happy that the British have selected Sri Lanka to have their grand finale on the surfing championship. Water based tourism has been a one of the lucrative markets for Sri Lanka," Wijesinghe said.

"We have also planned strategic promotion to tap the British water based tourism and cultural tourism. SLA Promotions Manager Saminda Perera said that Sri Lanka's coastal areas including Arugam Bay, Hikkaduwa and Mirissa have become ideal for secure surfing as they have surferable waves.

Most of lifestyle surfers and leisure surfers come to Arugam Bay from June to September and to Hikkaduwa from October to March. The airline also sponsored the National Championship of the Japanese Pro Surfers Association, which was held in Hikkaduwa.

Technical support was given by Lanka Sports Reizen and its Managing Director Tilak Weerasinghe said there are three popular point breaks in Arugam Bay which provide high quality surfing.

With sea temperature at 27 degrees Celsius throughout the year, Arugam Bay is an ideal surfing location. He said although local surfers have shown their skills in the international competitions, the concern of related authorities is not enough to develop surfing in Sri Lanka.

We should train them by teaching modern surfing techniques which enables them to compete with foregone surfers. We hope to select best local surfer from this competition and send him to the International Surfing Competition which will be held in Maldives next year.

The official tour operator is TTAL's local agent Crystal Holidays. Managing Director of the TTAL Ralph Pereira said that he is keen to sponsor this event because it will provide many social and economic opportunities to Sri Lankans.

As the title sponsor the airline provides air tickets and price money. This event was part of an on-going program to incorporate Sri Lanka as part of the British Professional Surfing circuit while boosting the country's tourism industry and promoting SriLankan as a world class passenger carrier.