World Tourism Day with a difference

A.G. Piyadasa

Tourism: The Sri Lanka Tourist Board, the Ministry of Tourism, Wayamba Development Authority and SriLankan Airlines will celebrate the world Tourism Day in Yapahuwa on September 27. This event will consist of a cleaning programme, tree planting campaign, awareness programs on tourism, art and essay competition, cycle tour, educational exhibition etc.

Director General of Sri Lanka Tourist Board K. Kalaiselvam said in addition, a kohomba kankariya, a ritual to bless the country and a traditional tooth relic procession at Yapahuwa will be held on 27 and 28 respectively. The venue is the archeological site in Yapahuwa in the Yapahuwa temple premises.

The main objective of this event is to create an awareness on a lesser known tourist attractions ie. Yapahuwa and promote it as a novel tourist destination by giving opportunity to domestic and international tourists to visit and discover wonders of 13th century ancient capital of Sri Lanka.

Kalaiselvam said this is the first time, a series of events is organised in a rural area to celebrate World Tourism Day in Sri Lanka.

Minister of Tourism Anura Bandaranaike, Minister of Highway and Development Deputy Minister of Public Administration T.B. Ekanayake and Chief Minister of Wayamba Province Athula Wijesinghe will be present.