Kumbuk River wins world's leading Eco-lodge award

Colombo: The Oscars of the travel world, the World Travel Awards has put Sri Lanka on the global map by naming KumbukRiver as the World's Leading Eco-Lodge.

The eco resort in Buttala won the coveted title over many leading eco destinations worldwide, bringing international focus on to Sri Lanka's rich heritage. The 14-acre resort on a resplendent nature reserve by the Kumbukkan Oya, is built with a 40ft edifice in the shape of an elephant wondering in the wilds, as its centre-piece.

KumbukRiver has previously been shortlisted at the Responsible Tourism Awards and was named by the London-based Times-Online to be among the world's best 50 green places. The mastermind behind Sri Lanka's success at the World Travel Awards,

Dinesh Watawana says the project started as a wild idea "which would show how a brand could be built from nothing, if given an honest chance". His ad agency The 7th Frontier funded the project as part of a two-prong strategy.