JAPANESE SURFERS RETURN

 TO RIDE SRI LANKA’S WAVES AT JPSA PRO SURF 2010

March 16, 2010  04:31 pm

More than a hundred Japanese surfers will gather on Sri Lanka’s golden beaches for the return of the Japan Pro Surfing Association’s (JPSA) exciting annual competition to the Indian Oceanisland.

The roaring waves and palm-fringed beaches of the resort of Hikkaduwa will provide the ideal setting for JPSA Pro Surf 2010 from March 19-23, 2010, a joint effort of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and SriLankan Airlines.

The return of Japanese Pro Surf  to the resort of Hikkaduwa after a five-year absence is a major milestone for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which has been enjoying an extraordinary period of growth over the last nine months. The Government of Sri Lanka has declared next year as “Visit Sri Lanka Year, 2011”.

Hon. Achala Jagoda, Minister of Tourism said: “The opportunity to host the prestigious JPSA competition in our tropical island is of great importance. Since May 2009 our country has been completely at peace, and this would be an opportunity to rekindle tourists’ interest in the wonders of Sri Lanka. We have the ideal environment and the ability to encourage off-season travelers and sports enthusiasts to the country, so this event is the perfect opportunity forSri Lankato promote itself as a year-round tourist destination and spread the message of the peaceful condition that prevails”.

The JPSA, Japan’s regulatory body for surfing which is a member of the global body Association of Surfing Professionals, had chosen the island for its premier event, starting in 2001. But after five highly successful years, the island’s civil war saw it being shifted elsewhere.

Nishantha Wickremasinghe, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, said: “We are honoured that the JPSA has once again chosen Sri Lankaas the location for this fantastic event. Sri Lanka has long been a favourite destination of Japanese tourists, and the number of tourists from Japan has been increasing rapidly following the dawn of peace nearly a year ago.”

Sri Lanka has the distinction of being the only country outside Japanwhere JPSA ranking events are held, and the island attracts more than 800 Japanese surfers annually, both to Hikkaduwa and to Arugam Bayon the southeast coast.

Eranga Basnayake, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, said: “The southwestern coast of Sri Lanka is exceptionally suited for surfing and the infrastructure is well suited to handle an event of this magnitude. Sri Lanka had already acquired a reputation as a good surfing destination, and is probably the best in Asia”.

This year’s competition promises to be intense with eight world ranked surfers among the contestants battling it out for the Rs. 3 million prize money and the SriLankan Airlines Cup, ranging from professionals to amateurs. The event will also see the participation of 15 international judges, and the presence of a number of Japanese journalists to cover the action. There will also be a separate competition for Sri Lanka’s own surfing community.

SriLankan Airlines, which has a global network of 49 destinations in 32 countries, has three flights a week betweenTokyo’s Narita Airport and Colombo on Airbus A340 aircraft.

Local ground handling arrangements are being coordinated by Sri Lanka Tourism.

Water Sledding

08 Mar, 2010 14:48:48

Sri Lanka to start underwater sled rentals to tourists

Mar 08, 2010 (LBO) - An under water scooter rental firm is starting up in a tourist area north of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, to feed an upturn in the industry following the end of a 30-year war, the island's investment promotion agency said.

Mountcastle Marine will rent 'Cayago Seabob' sleds to tourists. The 500,000 US dollar venture will employ 30 people, the Board of Investment said."'Rent a SEABOB', which is known to globally attract many tourists to diverse parts of the world is expected to have a high demand in the Sri Lankan market," the BOI said in a statement.
"With the Sri Lankan tourism industry once again booming the SEABOB will be of popular demand while further promoting a booming industry."
The BOI regulates foreign investments in to the country and gives tax holidays. Approval documents have been given to directors Zahid Hussein Jafferjee and Frank Wieprecht, the agency said.

Mountcastle Marine recreational sports complex will be in Arachchikattuwa in Sri Lanka's west coast.

OLD IS GOLD

OLD IS GOLD…

December 31, 1969  

The “AA Vintage Rally 2010” vintage car exhibition organized by the Automobile Association of Sri Lanka was held at Galle Face today. Pic by Pramodh Hinsara

The Garden Resort by the sea

Pegasus Reef Hotel
Carson and Cumberbatch, the managing company of Pegasus Reef Hotel, Hendala, Wattala redefined the concept of a city resort beach hotel after the extensive refurbishment to give the guests the option to customise and personalise their experience on a beach that is in its golden best facing the Indian Ocean. The coconut palm garden provides the world weary traveller with an ideal setting to relax while the distant blue ocean and the horizon are an absolute food for the soul.
Sit out at the private balcony or terrace and see how the shadows gently lengthen and watch the sun going beneath the horizon leaving you and the entire country in darkness. As darkness deepens you could see the glittering lights of the Colombo Harbour and also the glittering stars above reminiscing you a star studded galaxy.
Perched in close proximity to the capital city and a few minutes drive away from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and the Free Trade Zone (FTZ), Pegasus Reef is one of the best transit hotels for the business travellers and the leisure travellers.
With the refurbishment Pegasus Reef introduces a new level of luxury accommodation in all the 107 spacious deluxe rooms in three different wings. The beach, garden and the pool wings face the respective directions and the main highlights in all these rooms are that all the four star comforts are available in the rooms. All are equipped with central air-conditioning, TV, telephone, mini bar, safety lockers, internet connections, hot/cold bath and private balcony/terrace.
For guests seeking a more adventurous and fun filled experience Pegasus Reef has a host of activities not only for the adults but also for the hotels youngest guests as well.
The recreation facilities provided by the hotel are the fully equipped gym, squash, tennis, beach volleyball, table tennis, and chess. The hotel also employs a full time animator and organises different animations programmes throughout the week. The residential conference facilities could be provided in all four conference halls and all the conference equipment too are provided by the hotel.
The open air restaurant with 150-200 covers has become very popular among the guests. All three meals are buffet while the breakfast layout is a combination of eastern and western food, from cereal to toast and ‘Kola Kenda’ to fresh fruit juices.
Lunch buffet is a touch of Sri Lankan and international combination and the Sri Lankan food is cooked in clay pots.
Apart from the dinner buffet, for those who prefer to taste a different taste of food could be ordered from the available a-la-carte or set menu. Live bands keep the guests spellbound on Fridays and Saturdays during dinner time and the weekend special lunch buffet is very popular among the guests.
The hotel hopes to introduce a sea food night, BBQ, and Grill nights in future as there is a high demand from the guests.
A state –of- the- art laundry which has the capacity to give a good service to outsiders is a special feature.
The hotel’s three bars, the lobby, piano and the pool bar serves different cocktails, fresh juices, foreign and local spirits and non alcoholic beverages to quench the thirst of its guests.
Unwrap your mind to the luxury to savour the hospitality at Pegasus Reef which is worthwhile to spend your dream vacation to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul.
Pegasus Reef Hotel
Hendala Wattala, Tel : 2930205-6

Ulagalla resort opens in August

Gayan Kanchana In Anuradhapura

The Ulagalla Resort will commence operations from August targeting the growing tourism sector in the country.
Ulagalla Resort is a BOI approved project. It is built on the site of an old Walauwa, belonging to aristocracy. It is set in the middle of the Thirappane village in the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura.

The Ulagalla Resort

The hotel targets high-end exclusive tourists and will provide the opportunity to discover the pleasure of exquisite surroundings.
Ulagalla Resort Resident Manager Lalin De Mel said the Ulagalla Resort consists of 25 elegantly laid out luxurious villas spread over an unrestricted area of 58 acres, with most overlooking the reservoir while some overlook the flourishing paddy cultivation which will give guests the opportunity to experience the traditions of paddy cultivation in Sri Lanka.
"We will do everything possible to satisfy our customers. No restrictions for them at all and they can stay in the resort as of their own. Half the energy requirement will be generated through solar power in keeping with the "Go Green" concept and the resort has largest solar farm in the country with a capacity of 125KVA," he said.
Ulagalla Resort General Manager Marketing Ranjaka De Mel said, the "Ulagalla resort is over 200 years and has great historic value.
This eco friendly resort has largely made use of green building material "Durra" and will be going for the LEED certification soon.
Up to now they have spent more than Rs. 700 million for the project.
This amount as expected increase with the completion.
Each Villa consists of a floor area of 800 sq.ft. and includes a separate living area furnished with elegance and comfort combined with state-of-the-art amenities.
The property also includes of a 30 metre fresh water swimming pool and electric cars to shuttle guests within the vast compound.
An Ayurvedic spa to rejuvenate the mind and the body, and fully equipped gymnasium together with recreational facilities such as horse riding, archery, billiards, kayak and canoe rides and many others are available. Ulagalla resort is the first hotel to be commissioned after the post war era.

Sri Lanka Tourism and CNN storm cyber space MONDAY, 08 FEBRUARY 2010 14:18 1 2 3 4 5  ( 4 Votes ) The launch of the website www.visitsrilanka-2011.com for the CNN global campaign was held recently.  This website is part of the global communication campaign launched in November 2009. The website is interactive and is designed in such a manner that the users are invited to be a part of this campaign. 'This website is launched with the Visit Sri Lanka Year 2011 and will serve as an impetus to kickstart the campaign. It is a tremendous potential for Sri Lanka Tourism to be partnering with such an international media powerhouse such as CNN. We will ensure that we gain the maximum exposure and potential from the synergies that will be created from this association' said Tourism Minister, Achala Jagoda. This is the first time a 360 degree social networking campaign will be launched on CNN through Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Flicker and a contest whereby the winners get their dream itinerary which includes 9 friends. This contest, carried out in collaboration with Sri Lankan airlines and the industry partners, will be launched on a CNN microsite. Speaking on this special collaboration, Junji Sumitani, Sales Director, S.E. Asia, CNN International said, "CNN is proud to collaborate with Sri Lanka tourism on their unique travel campaign to showcase the best the country has to offer.  CNN's multi-platform campaign brings together on-air and interactive online elements through a dedicated site and social networks to engage users to experience Sri Lanka like never before. This campaign leverages CNN's extensive reach amongst travellers around the world." Sri Lanka Tourism recognizes the role of social marketing in today's business climate, which will be an important tool in this marketing campaign. High profile Sri Lankans, including entrepreneurs, fashion icons and leading business people are coming onboard to blog for Sri Lanka on Twitter. Sri Lanka Tourism also encourages the general public to blog on Sri Lanka. Interested bloggers are invited to write in to Sri Lanka Tourism if they are keen to be a part of this venture where by they are able to interact via facebook and send e-cards. Post conflict all eyes are on Sri Lanka, and it's never been a better time to showcase the island's scenic imagery via e-cards available on http://local.visitsrilanka-2011.com. 'We would like to keep up with the times and move away from conventional methods of promoting Sri Lanka as a destination. It is an experiment for us in two-fold, we are using marketing tools that are new to us and marketing Sri Lanka for the first time in 30 years as a peaceful destination. It marks an exciting period in Sri Lanka's history and we are delighted to be a part of it,' added Minister of Tourism Promotion, Faiszer Musthapha. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has carefully chosen a panel of Sri Lankan personalities, who will serve as experts on the micro-site. These 'Sri Lankan Champions' are the essence of Sri Lanka, thus are responsible for addressing any questions and concerns raised by users on the interactive micro-site. The website users will find company with Sri Lankan personalities handpicked by Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau including internationally recognized film maker - Vimukthi Jayasundara, Director Design at Buddhi Batiks - Darshi Keerthisena, CEO of Jetwing Eco Holidays - Gehan De S Wijeratne, Miss Sri Lanka 2009 - Gamya Wijayadasa, three times represented Sri Lanka in Olympic games - Julian Bolling, Otara Gunawardene - CEO of ODEL, Kumar Sangakkara - Sri Lanka Cricket Captain, to name a few. Commenting on this historic association Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka Cricket Captain said, "This is a very exciting new era for Sri Lanka as a tourist destination and it is therefore fitting that Sri Lanka Tourism has embarked upon such an innovative and interactive social networking campaign to help spread the word around the globe about our beautiful tropical island home - a land of warm sunshine, wide smiles, rich heritage and astonishing diversity". Sri Lanka Tourism is hoping to build on the rapid growth in inbound American tourist market. This has been further enhanced by New York Times and Daily Candy Washington declaring Sri Lanka as the No: 1 idyllic getaway spot for tourists, Recent arrival figures from the US has shown an significant increase of 1.3% in arrivals from January to December 2009 when compared to the same period in 2008. This is especially encouraging because the United States of America is not a traditionally key market of Sri Lanka due to connectivity issues.

Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo wins ‘Traveller Choice Award’

THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2010 10:46 1 2 3 4 5  ( 2 Votes ) Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo, a John Keells Hotels in the Maldives wins the coveted TripAdvisor® 2010 Travellers Choice award and is in the fifth position of the top ten resorts in Asia in the Romance Category. TripAdvisor®, the world's most trusted source of travel advice, announced the winners of its 2010 Travellers' Choice® awards. With 719 properties around the world winning awards this year, the eighth annual competition is the largest ever, including new categories such as trendiest hotels, best relaxation/spas and world's top hotels by region. Unlike any other hotel honors in the world, TripAdvisor® Travellers' Choice® winners are based on the millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions from travellers on TripAdvisor.com™. "Inspired by millions of trusted traveller reviews and opinions on TripAdvisor.com, the Travellers' Choice awards once again highlight the finest hotels in the world," said Christine Petersen, Chief Marketing Officer for TripAdvisor®. 'Travellers worldwide are recognizing more than 700 hotels for their outstanding service, value and quality.' Travellers reviewed Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo as 'Paradise Found', 'Could this be heaven', 'Fantastic, would go back in a flash' and 'Paradise in a small package' Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo situated in the North Ari Atoll of the Maldives is considered to be one of the best locations for Scuba divers and snorkelers in the world with its easily accessible house reef teeming with a myriad of marine life in every hue of the rainbow. The resort with its 112 bungalows which includes 24 over water bungalows is a perfect romantic getaway and a paradise for divers. The four John Keells Hotels in the Maldives are Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo, Chaaya Island Dhonveli, Chaaya Lagoon Hakura Huraa and Cinnamon Island Alidhoo.