Sri Lanka among the best for honeymooners

Anjana GAMAGE

LONDON: Director of Tourism in UK and Ireland Jean-Marc Flambert who's office is based in London in an exclusive interview with the Daily News Travel said the ongoing Test and One Day cricket series between Sri Lanka and England in the UK for over two months will be one of the major tourism promotional campaigns for Sri Lanka.

"The Ashes cup was won by England last year and we are waiting for exciting moments with the this cricket series. Many cricketers in the national team have pledged their unconditional support to boost the Sri Lankan tourism campaign in the UK with their tour.

We have also planned to initiate a Sri Lankan Road Show during the tournament in May and June as well," Flambert said.

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board office in the UK, which has budgeted Sterling Pounds 3000 for its promotional campaign this year launched its first travel trade manual this year along with five other site-specific brochures giving an in-depth description on Adventure Sports, the hill country, Ceylon tea, Ayurvedic treatment and massages and wildlife, plants and botanical gardens.

Commenting on the present situation on Sri Lanka tourism, Flambert said Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka tourism are moving into an exciting era and that Sri Lanka is very clearly on the international tourism map while more people are aspiring to visit Sri Lanka.

"Sri Lanka is fast maturing as a destination with a wide variety of accommodation to support what is arguably one of the most diverse countries in the world.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka has received the unique honour of being named as the second best island in the world vis-a-vis its tourist ratings and also as the third best romantic destination, in a Sky TV programme televised worldwide in January.

"It is really a tremendous boost to the local tourism industry to attain this 'top standard' especially in the aftermath of the tsunami," he said.

However he also admitted that Sri Lanka has received wide publicity in the UK market in 2006. "There were three pages on Sri Lanka in the HELLO magazine, five pages in the TATLER magazine (April issue) and 12 pages in the CONDENEST TRAVELLER. In the GM TV morning programme, Sri Lanka was featured from January 9 to 13," he said.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka was placed as one of the top three destinations in the world and popular honeymoon destination according to the Tour Operators Outbound Market Report issued for 2004/2005 in the UK.

According to the report Venice was placed first and Paris second while Sri Lanka as picked as the third among the world's top honeymoon destinations.

"However the latest statistics have also revealed that many people in the UK outbound market prefer to have their weddings and honeymoons in Sri Lanka," Flambert said.

PATA Grand Award for Mt. Lavinia Hotel

COLOMBO: This year the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Grand Award for Education and Training was presented to Mount Lavinia Hotel for its Youth Trainee Programme.

This is a timely recognition of Mount Lavinia Hotel's many works and projects aimed at changing the perceptions of a large segment of the Sri Lankan society which once viewed tourism and tourism related employment in a negative light, and this recognition becomes unique as the Hotel celebrates 200 years of its original building this year.

Over the past decades Mount Lavinia Hotel has taken upon itself to train young men and women of the low to middle income families in the rural areas of the country.

As the leading travel award programme for the travel industry in the Asia Pacific region, the PATA Grand Award represents the highest accolade for organisations which strive to promote the travel sector.

"A beneficial programme for tourism industry human resource development, particularly in a developing country where skills are lacking" is what the Chairman of PATA had to say at the inauguration ceremony.

For Mount Lavinia Hotel, the PATA Grand Award is yet another feather in her 200-year-old cap.

Journey to Diyaluma

Kingsley HEENDENIYA

KOSLANDA: I went by bus to Diyaluma on my 75th birthday. I wished to be undisturbed to do corrections to the MS of 'Fifty Selected Suttas - A Book for Every Buddhist Home.' I knew the place to do it was the quaint Inn with a panorama of the Diyaluma Falls from my room.

I got into a bus at Pettah at 7 and went to Wellawaya through the rapid Uda-Walawe road across the track of wild elephants. And then I climbed to Koslanda in another bus along a lazy road I had travelled up and down many times 35 years ago.

After a cold shower and a beer to soak tiredness, I had lunch at 3 in the afternoon. My host was Mr. Premadasa, former GA at Badulla, who runs the Diyaluma Falls Inn at the 206th km post on the A4 highway.

There are seven double-bed and one large family room for 15 persons including children at a modest price. It is a cosy little place from where you can explore many beautiful archaeological sites and savour the best of the colonial British occupation.

But the centre point is the magnificent Fall dropping sheer 628 feet vertically hugging a massive granite escarpment to the slender bridge from a spout of 2 feet to cascade down the gorge, tumbling and scrambling over venerable rocks to the Ruhuna plateau, the holy Menik Ganga and the sea at Kirinda.

Premadasa spent most of his administrative years in the region and knows its topography, history and folklore. Over 200 years ago, an aged English planter and his young wife dared to climb the face of the Falls on a rope over a spur.

The sprightly girl raced ahead leaving the old man struggling, taunting him to catch up. In a fit of rage, the legend tells, he cut the rope and both fell to their death. Dutugemunu had traversed this route to establish his kingdom and escape the wrath of his brother.

A few months ago, a young doctor who ignored the warning of villagers not to bathe at the bottom of the Falls in the rainy season, was flushed into the gorge and battered by a sudden gush of a torrent from the spout.

Many times have I seen the Falls in full flow and the spray over the bridge in Northeast and Southeast monsoons. A young man once climbed the rock face, tried it a second time, slipped and died. But one can safely get to the top through Poonagala, and also gaze below at Pilkington Point.

The view, as the Earth mysteriously drops to Ruhuna, it is said, is better than from World's End. One can see the Little Bases lighthouses, dagoba and irrigation tanks in Tissamaharama.

There are many excursions using Premadasa's Inn as base camp. You do not need four-wheel drive to Okkampitiya to see the lovingly restored ruins of Maligavila and its environs.

Turn right at Wellawaya junction to Tanamalwila for the three tall standing rock statues at Buduruwagala or, go through to Buttala and shortcut to Kataragama 2 hours away. Turn left before the junction and climb the Ellla-Badulla highway to Ravana Falls.

Take binoculars to watch birds and peep into nests in stunted trees on the rim and sides of the bowl of mountains enclosing you. Who knows, you may even spot the 12-feet leopard that drags up-hill stray buffaloes for his dinner!

The dense growth in the hollows of the range is typical three-tiered rain forest. The canopy with clean arms is light green. It is dark green in the middle, with thick brown lianas, light ferns and flowers on the floor. Their dominant shade is brilliant yellow with scattered purple, cherry red and white.

The verandah for two at the back of the room is to contemplate on and cherish Nature's display - and of vilification by man. The Inn is truly satisfying. The staff woke me at 5 am, stopped the bus at their doorstep, and I came home through old Beragala.

So I want to share with you this journey to Diyaluma. Go with your children. The telephone is easy to remember. It is 057-5678910.

Boost for Lanka tourism at 'TUR' Travel Trade Fair

SWEDEN: Sri Lanka tourism got a massive boost at the "TUR' Travel Trade Fair - 2006" held in Gothenburg, Sweden from March 23 to 26.

"The main aim of Sri Lanka's participation at the Travel Fair was to target Scandinavian countries and to bring in more tourists from this sector to Sri Lanka," Chairman, Bernard Tours and Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Anjalo Mendis said.

Mendis said that the fair was an ideal opportunity for Sri Lanka to present its natural beauty, and all the natural tourist potentials the country is blessed with, as an ideal tourist destination, to the Scandinavian countries, so that more tourists from this sector will visit Sri Lanka to savour not only its beauty but the ever-smiling and friendly people. - Lester

Sri Lankan Malay Food Festival at the Galadari Hotel

COLOMBO: The Galadari Hotel will be cooking up a feast of delights for their annual Sri Lankan Malay Food Festival in association with The Women's Affairs Branch of The Sri Lanka Malay Association on 23rd and 24th June at the Hotel's Coffee Shop.

The Ladies of The Sri Lanka Malay Association will be preparing authentic Malay dishes assisted by the chefs of the Galadari Hotel.

Some of the highlights of the Malay Food Festival will be the Malay cultural show and songs by the students and members of the Malay Association choreographed by Rufin Saldin and Malrin Lantra, Malay Fashion Show by Marine Dole and Hair Styles and make up by Ramzi Rahman.

Seen in the picture Assistant Director Food and Beverage Ramalee Adjumain, Executive Chef Lloyd Opatha, Sous Chef A. Salih of the Galadari Hotel, Halima Booso, Marline Dole, Marina Lye, Shanaz Bohoran, Kumala Assen, Inaya Ahamat, Niyamath Rahim, Zeeniya Camball and Malrin Lantra from the Malay Association discussing arrangements to make this event a grand success.

Biriyani feast at Taprobane

COLOMBO: Biriyani is the flavour of the month at your family restaurant Taprobane at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo from June 1 to 18 with a range of over nine different traditional and innovative preparations. The promotion is on only for dinner from 7.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m.

Cooked on a slow charcoal fire with prawns, fish, mutton, chicken or a delightful vegetarian blend, the menu includes Mutton Biriyani, Chicken Biriyani, Prawn Biriyani, Fish Biriyani and Sea food Biriyani.

Four vegetable Biriyani varieties with an alternative choice of Cottage Cheese and Pea Biriyani are also available to nosh up the vegetarian way.

The different specialty dishes are served with a range of accompaniments-including a spicy Chicken Masala, Mutton Kadai Gosht, Fish Goan Curry, Fried Brinjale Curry and a delightful Cashew and Pea Curry combination.

There's also the usual Tomato Onion Green Chilli Cucumber Platter, Mint Sambol, and a choice of Lime and Pineapple Pickle with tomato Jam for a truly traditional touch!

If you prefer something novel to the more traditional preparations there's the Seafood based Biriyani combinations and even a Shoe Lobster Biriyani for the asking!

The feast also offers Raitas-Plain, Miloni and a mixed blend as well as great selection of desserts to complete the meal. A delicious Sego Payasam, Srikhand, Jalabi or the Carrot Halva can be your choice!

New look banquet halls at Taj

COLOMBO: Taj Samudra recently gave two of its premium banquet halls a complete facelift.

Samudra Ballroom

The Samudra ballroom, which is housed on the rooftop has always had a stunning view of the Indian Ocean and the Galle Face Green. This view has been further enhanced by the "mirror feel" at the newly done up venue.

The columns as well as the walls are now adorned with Belgian glass mirrors. A plush "Navy & Gold" carpet and beautiful ornate blinds make this the most "sought after" rooftop venue in the City. Samudra Ballroom can accommodate up to 450 guests

On Golden Pond

"On Golden Pond" draws inspiration from the hugely popular Jane Fonda movie of the same name. In sync with the name is the rich carpet with several hues of gold on a deep green background. There is also an element of Italian marble flooring - where the buffet is usually laid out.

The landscaping, water bodies and foliage, which over look the hall, have also been enhanced to complement the interior. On Golden Pond can accommodate up to 225 guests.

Taj Airport Garden introduces new service centre

COLOMBO: The Taj Airport Garden introduced a new concept of a 'Service Centre', which is a single point contact geared to handle guests' requests, preferences and also complaints.

All guest inquiries and complaints concerning Housekeeping, Maintenance, Laundry, Conciege/Bell Desk and Reception will be handled and resolved at this single point itself, thus making it very convenient for the guest.

The introduction of the 'Service Centre' will replace the numerous and often sometimes confusing one-touch buttons on the Room Telephones pre-functioned for the various Departments that is at the guests' disposal for information.

All guest requests, preferences and complaints would be fed into the Guest Profile by the Service Centre staff for future reference, and to ensure that these are promptly and efficiently handled.

..................................

<< Spice Main Page