Tourism ambassadors to launch Ramayana trail

Chairman of the Cricket Board Arjuna Ranatunga and the former player Aravinda de Silva will launch a special programme to the Indian media of places of interest associated with the epic today (17) at the Metropolitan Hotel in New Delhi.

The Ramayana has a very special place in the bondage between Sri Lanka and India and offers opportunities for Indian visitors to explore, absorb and enjoy the various places of significance as presented in Valmiki’s epic.

The launch will precede a special dinner event that Sri Lanka will host for Indian business leaders and visiting business partners from overseas at the Partnership Summit organized by the Chamber of Indian Industry in association with Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka Tourism and SriLankan Airlines.

The media event for the launch of the Ramayana trail and the dinner will be attended by Swami Sarvarupananda of the Ramakrishna Mission, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in India Romesh Jayasinghe and Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva and Indian test cricketer, commentator and Member of Parliament Navjot Sidhu.

Researchers have identified over 50 places and sites in Sri Lanka connected with the names of Lord Rama, Seethadevi and King Ravana who is said to have ruled Lankapura. There are many devotees in Sri Lanka, who worship at these sites where special temples are built.

These include areas where it is believed that King Ravana has had Seethadevi in captivity. Many Sri Lankan sites have names associated with the Ramayana such as Seethaeliya, Ram Bodha (Ramboda), Ussangoda and Roomassala.

Sri Lanka Tourism will ensure the maintenance of the sacredness of these sites while facilitating foreign and local visitors the opportunity of visiting them for worship and experiencing.

The trail of Ramayana will be another string of treasures among Sri Lanka many treasures and Sri Lanka Tourism invites friends from India and the world-over to visit and enjoy the serendipity of Sri Lanka: a Land like no other where smiling people, golden beaches, rainforests, ancient cultural sites, waterfalls amongst misty mountains, adore the landscape as cited in the ancient Ramayana Epic.