People's Bank subsidiary in domestic tourism

PROMOTION: People's Bank, through its travel subsidiary, People Travels has launched a programme for the promotion of domestic tourism by commencing a two day excursion for pilgrims to Kataragam.

Plans are afoot to extend the service to Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Sigirya and Sinharaja as well.

The Kataragama excursion which begins at 6 am from Colombo returns to Colombo by 7 pm on Sunday which is competitively priced at Rs. 1,320.

Devotees are afforded visits to Kataragama Kirivehera and Tissamaharama on this excursion. The visitors also have the choice of three rest houses as and lunch will be on a buffet basis on both days. This company has also successfully organised 121 pilgrimages to India.

The bus which has been purchased for this excursion is a 41 seater which also has television facilities.

This service has been launched not for the monetary gain for the promotion of domestic tourism, People's Bank Chairman Dr. P. Kirivandeniya and People's Travels Chairman Chandrasiri de Silva said.

Peoples Travels CEO Vasantha de Silva also said that the revenue from this project has increased 100% between 2005 and 2006 and that there have been 16 pilgrimages which have been already organised to India for 2007 which has already received a good response.

There is also a likelihood that Sri Lankan organisations based in Australia will also network with this programme in the near future. Anyone who is interested in the programme could contact any People's Bank branch for details.