SriLankan promotes Lanka as alternative surfing destination

BY IRANGIKA Range

SRILANKAN Airlines (SLA) is continuing to promote Sri Lanka as an alternative surfing destination to Maldives, Bali and Hawai for Japanese surfers. It sponsored the SLA's Japanese Pro Surf Association (JPSA) Surfing Championship for the 6th year in succession.

The competition was conducted from November 25 to 30 at Hikkaduwa. The national airline that is expected to tap the Japan water based tourism in addition to cultural and religious by organising this annual JPSA tournament.

Over 100 Japanese professional surfers together with 40 local surfers participated this year while about 15 qualified judges of JPSA officiated.

This international event is covered by the international sports media including Japan.

This is the last tournament of the year in the JPSA's calendar and it is an official ranking tournament that offers competitors a final chance to improve their standings in the JPSA rankings that announced following the event.

The airline conducts two separate contests such as All Japan Pro Surf Cup and Sri Lankan Pro Surf Cup in this year making it more interesting and giving local participants an opportunity to compete at an international surf contest.

Promotion Manager of SLA Saminda Perera said that the SLA is happy that Japanese have selected Sri Lanka to have their grand finale on the surfing championship.

Sri Lanka's coastal areas have become extremely ideal for secure surfing as they have sufferable waves. With the launch of JPSA event several years back, we have got into the Japanese surfing market.

Most of lifestyle surfers and leisure surfers come to Arugambay from June to September and to Hikkaduwa from October to March.

To support local surfers, SLA intent on organising Sri Lanka Pro Surfing event which would WQS (World Qualifying Series) 4 star ranking event at ArugamBay from June 16 to 23 next year with the assistance of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP).

The airline also sponsored the SLA champion of the (BPSA) British Pro Surf Association's annual surf competition in Arugambay.

Technical support is given by the Lanka Sports Reizen. Its Managing Director Tilak Weerasinghe said there are over 20 surfing points from Hikkaduwa to Yala including Weligama and Mirissa in Sri Lanka while over 14 high quality surfing points in Arugambay.

Although Sri Lanka has ideal surfing locations, it hasn't yet professionally recognised surfing compared with other countries such as Hawaii, Maldives and Bali.

'We have local surfers who have shown their best surfing skills competing with world surfing professionals.

We should develop infrastructure facilities by setting up the Sri Lanka Professional Surfing Association and surfing clubs at the regional level.

We should support local surfers to promote their livelihood as well as providing training including modern surfing techniques which enables them to compete with foreigners,' he said.

Aitken Spence overall winners of Chefs Guild competition

AITKEN Spence Hotels were judged overall winners with 97 medals at the culinary art competition organised by the Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka and in association with World Association of Cooks Societies (WACS) held at BMICH. Sri Lanka's biggest food and hotel show, the competition was held for the 11th year with the participation of 950 chefs with more than 1,250 entries.

Aitken Spence Hotels located in strategic cities in the country caters to a diverse market segment and is famed for its exquisite food and culinary art.

As an individual entity Waters Edge, managed by Aitken Spence Hotels emerged as the winner with a medal tally of 33 including 17 gold medals, a unique achievement and was closely followed by Kandalama Hotel. Aitken Spence Hotels in total received 34 gold medals including 3 gold medals with excellence.

The chain of hotels participated in 17 events including the most coveted 5 course set dinner menu scoring highest marks in most categories.

The judges for the competition came from across 20 countries including Peter A. Knipp, honorary ambassador of the Singapore Food Association and Bernd Michael Uber, Professor of the Culinary Academy of France.

"The chefs' accomplishments not only bring credit and fame to Sri Lanka, but also reflect on Aitken Spence Hotels, who have encouraged them and given the opportunity to develop their talents, to innovate and to create.

The group has won many prestigious international awards in this area of speciality including the SAGA Good Food Award and the CNN Ultimate Service Award for the Indian Subcontinent at Kandalama Hotel - a brilliant feat for any hotel chain," a group official said.

Habarana wins Green Award again

THE Lodge Habarana was once again awarded the prestigious international Green Planet Award 2005 from Kuoni for their environment-friendly practices in all areas, and the commitment to protect and manage the environment.

The Kuoni Green Planet Award honors the hotels, which meet the international environmental standards. The success of the Lodge Habarana winning this prestigious award is the responsible environmental practices, management and commitment to protect and further develop the environment.

Club Palm Bay Bar Tender wins award

K. SIVA Kumar, a talented Senior Barman from Club Palm Bay Marawila was ajudged the second runner up at the 15th Asia Pacific Bar Tender of the year Cocktails Competition 2005, which was held in Singapore recently. He won this award for the "Flaring Category".

Siva Kumar became the first Sri Lankan Bar Tender to win this International Award. He is employed at Club palm Bay.

TAASL donates blankets to victims in Pakistan

IN a bid to assist the earthquake victims in Pakistan, the Travel Agents Association of Sri lanka (TAASL) recently donated 300 blankets for their use to the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo.

This contribution was made by the Association recognizing the devastation caused to many towns and villages in Pakistan and the need to provide relief to the more than 2 million people made homeless by the worst earthquake recorded in the history of Pakistan.

TAASL Council Member A.M. Wazeer of JNW Lanka Tours coordinated this effort on behalf of the Council and Members of the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka.

Udaya Silva TAASL Council Member, Colonel Imran Hassen of the Pakistan High Commission, A.M. Wazeer TAASL Council Member and S. Paramanathan TAASL Vice President, making a donation.

New general manager at Ocean View resorts

OCEAN View Resorts Ltd., Owners and managing agents of the Villa Ocean View and Induruwa Beach Resort in a recent communique announced the appointment of veteran Hotelier Ronald Perera as General Manager - Hotel Operations and Marketing.

Counting over 26 years of experience in the hospitality industry having worked for some of the finest properties locally and internationally, Perera has big plans to further develop and enhance the market share of these two popular resorts.

The Villa Ocean View located right on the beach in Wadduwa has 140 luxurious rooms, which includes 6 suits and 67 Cabanas.

It is not only popular amongst tour operators but also amongst Sri Lankans and expatriates. Induruwa Beach Resort is a 90 roomed Hotel located right on the beach with a direct Sea View and all other comforts one would require for a relaxed and peaceful stay.