Jaffna the latest tourist destination

Nallur Festival to be the platform:

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

Sri Lanka Tourism will promote Jaffna as a tourist destination and the Nallur festival will be a platform to facilitate its efforts. This is the first step in a long way and it will empower the Jaffna economy, said Minister of Tourism Promotion, Faiszer Musthapha at a press conference yesterday.

"We are expecting over 100,000 devotees to this festival from August 12 to 22. Steps have been taken to increase the basic facilities such as water, sanitation and related infrastructure. Although there are only five guest houses in Jaffna we expect visitors to home stay as many Tamil people abroad have relations in Jaffna. We are trying to upgrade the standards of hotels and it will be a gradual process", he said.

A special flight will be introduced from Ratmalana to Pallali by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), Deccan Aviation and Expo Aviation. The return airfare is Rs. 17,000.

The rate is exclusively for this festive period. The Ministry of Defence clearance for the foreigners will be given within 24 hours. The SLAF will operate five charter flights per day and would increase the number of flights according to the demand.

"The opening of air travel will be a boost to tourists as they have a choice of speedy travel to Jaffna. We need to encourage domestic flights," he said. The Nallur festival is conducted annually at the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil dedicated to Lord Muruga and is considered as a prime festival of the Tamil People.

This is the first time that the festival is being celebrated with peace prevailing in the country. Over 60,000 devotees visited the festival last year.