Sri Lanka welcomes the 950,000th tourist to the island

Heralding the news of a prosperous future for Tourism, the 950,000th tourist was warmly welcomed by a group including His Excellency Udayanga Weerathunga, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, Mr. Rumy Jauffer, the Managing Director of SLTPB, Mr.S. Shanthi Kumar, Vice President of Sri Lanka Tourist Hoteliers Association and Mr.Mervi Fernandopulle, Past President of Association of Small and Medium Enterprises at Bandaranaike International Airport on December 18 at a special ceremony. Mr. Krzysztof Kujawa and Ms. Agata Dziekn were given special gifts for being the lucky couple from Poland to pass the milestone, so that their next stay in Sri Lanka will be absolutely free.

This is the first time ever that a number of 950,000 tourists, the target of Sri Lanka Tourism for the year 2012, arrived in Sri Lanka. In the month of November,2012 the total number of tourist arrival figure was 109,202; the highest number of tourists ever turned up within a single month in the Sri Lanka Tourism History. It indicates a 20% growth compared to the previous year.

Having identified Russia, Eastern Europe Countries, Japan, China, Korea and India as emerging markets the SLTPB executed a new series of promotional activities incorporating the new strategies of the government. This campaign included travel fairs, roadshows, major advertising campaigns and social media promotions. The said campaign resulted in a greater contribution from the aforesaid countries.

Also, today the involvement of a number of small and medium enterprises in the tourism industry has helped earn a lot of foreign exchange. Apart from the island wide development process launched by the government, upgrading of infrastructure, road development, the introduction of new segments like New botanical gardens, the expansion of Expansion Dehiwala zoo, the development of the hotels in the Eastern province and other parts of the country, the Southern Highway and city beautification programmes, new Marine port, have contributed in developing the tourism industry in Sri Lanka.

In addition, the construction of Mattala airport, Katunayaka- Highway and Colombo Outer-Circular Highway are the other programs that will be carried out in future, to develop tourism.

At present, the tourism industry has become a major part in bringing about the economic boom in post- conflict Sri Lanka. The peaceful situation of the country and its hereditary beauty mingled to attract many visitors around the globe. With this positive situation at hand, international investors have begun to expand the domestic market to cater for the potential growth of tourist arrivals in following years. For example, the construction of major tourist hotels such as Shangri La, Centara, Marriot, OZO is underway at present.

Moreover, under the visiting journalists programme, SLTPB also makes yearly arrangements to invite 200 foreign journalists from leading magazines and television channels around the globe and thereby to enhance the image of Sri Lanka. These journalists, after familiarization tours in Sri Lanka, are to write image-building articles on Sri Lanka, upon return to their native countries. This is an addition to Lonely Planet endorsement for Sri Lanka as best destination to travel for 2013 among global tourism destinations

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Sri Lanka tourist arrivals reach record high in November

Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals rose 20.1 percent to a record high in November this year compared to the same period last year, the data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) showed. The month recorded 109,202 tourists arriving in the country compared to the 90,889 arrived in November 2011. Arrivals during the first eleven months of the year increased 16.5 percent to 883,353 from the 758,458 arrived in the same period last year.

Arrivals from North America rose 34.5 percent to 5,798 in November with Canada rising 30.4 percent to 2,542 and USA rising 37.8 percent to 3,256. For the first eleven months of 2012, North American arrival rose by 22.3 percent to 52,761.

Tourist arrivals from Western Europe reached 329,364 during the first 11 months of 2012, a 17.0 percent increase from the same period of last year.

Arrivals from Eastern Europe increased 45.5 percent from January through November 2012 with the arrival of 62,497 tourists.

During the first eleven months, tourist arrivals from Middle East however declined 4.8 percent to 50,096 from 52,597 from the same period of 2011.

Arrivals from South Asia for this year increased moderately. In the first eleven months 226,114 South Asians visited Sri Lanka, a 3.9 percent increase from the same period in previous year. Of the 26,649 arrived in November 2012, a majority, 17,625 were from India.

First domestic air taxi of Sri Lanka to take flight early next year

Cinnamon Air, Sri Lanka's first and only domestic air taxi service will take flight from March 2013, the company announced. Cinnamon Air using a combination of two Cessna 208 Amphibian and Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft will operate out of the Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo to several key coastal and inland destinations throughout the island.

The airline, owned and operated by Saffron Aviation (Pvt) Limited, will serve the tourists, with multiple daily scheduled departures from the International Airport to key holiday locations on the South West coast, the East Coast (in the summer season), , the Cultural Triangle and Hambantota/Yala.

The Cinnamon Air flights will be scheduled to connect with arrival and departure flight timings of the national carrier SriLankan Airlines and all other major international airlines serving Colombo. The service will significantly reduce the time spent on road transfers between the airport and hotels and on excursions, while at the same time, allow visitors to discover the incredible diversity of the island scenically and with ease.

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SriLankan Airlines increases flights to Riyadh

SriLankan Airlines has added more flights to the Saudi Arabian destination, Riyadh, to meet the increasing demand from Saudi Arabia to Colombo, and through Colombo, to India and other Far East destinations.

Accordingly, the airline added three more flights to the existing frequency of flights between Colombo and Riyadh increasing frequencies from two to five a week.

SriLankan currently serves 58 destinations in 33 countries worldwide in Europe, North America, Canada, India, the Far East and Middle East including 11 Gulf and Middle East destinations. The carrier operates 59 flights a week to Kuwait, Dammam, Riyadh, Muscat, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Jeddah, Amman and Sharjah. The national carrier will be a future member of the Oneworld global alliance from next year.

Construction of Mövenpick Hotel in Sri Lanka to begin next month

The Swiss hospitality chain Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts will begin its first ever five-star hotel in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo in January next year. Excavation work for the 200 rooms hotel and the construction will be completed within 24 months.

Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts President and CEO Jean Gabriel Peres has said that Sri Lanka tourism has the potential to be successful as Thailand is today as hospitality is natural for Sri Lankans. "Sri Lanka's natural hospitality and warmth is legendary. Sri Lanka is a gorgeous country ", he said.

The global brand is also looking for opportunities to manage a beach resort to complement and expand its offering in Sri Lanka.

5-star hotel complex under Hyatt Regency to come up in Colombo

A five-star multi faceted hotel complex managed under the global hospitality company Hyatt Regency will come up in the heart of Sri Lanka's capital city Colombo. The project, to be implemented by Sino Lanka Hotels & Spa (Pvt.) Ltd with a US$ 159 million investment, will construct a 30-floor hotel complex consisting of 475 rooms and 90 service apartments in a state-owned prime land in Colombo.

Once completed, Hyatt Regency Colombo will have modern facilities with large banqueting and meeting spaces, food and beverage outlets, fitness center, entertainment and adequate parking for the visitors.

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Ruins of ancient hospital discovered in Sri Lanka's historic city of Anuradhapura Archaeological researchers of Sri Lanka have discovered the ruins of an ancient hospital, believed to be about 2,000 years old, in Anuradhapura, the historic capital city of North Central Province. The ruins of the ancient hospital have been found near the ancient Thuparamaya Dagoba that is believed to have been initially constructed in third century B.C.

A spa, medical rooms and medical equipment including grinding stones and knives have been recovered so far. A latrine system that is carved in rock has also been identified.

The Archaeological Department has also commenced excavations of a hospital ground in Anuradhapura Maha Vihara temple near Ruvanwelisaya.

Sri Lanka's coastline between Galle Face and Mount Lavinia to be developed Sri Lanka plans to develop the coastline from the Galle Face Hotel complex to the Mount Lavinia Hotel limits. Plans have been made to beautify the stretch of beach and to prevent coastal erosion. The development of the coastal belt is under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Project is due to be completed within three years at an estimated cost of US$ 25 million.

Laboratories for certification of gold jewellery to be established Sri Lanka National Gem and Jewellery Authority says that three new laboratories would be established in the country for the benefit of the public seeking guarantee on the standard of their gold jewellery. The laboratories equipped with hi-tech instruments would be established in Galle, Kandy and Jaffna at a cost of Rs. 300 million. They will issue standard certificates for individual gold jewellery on request.

Presently, the clients who want guarantee on the standard of the jewellery they purchase can obtain laboratory test services only from National Gem and Jewellery Authority in Colombo.

Travel service center and Kottawa interchange on Southern Expressway President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the first travel service center on Southern Expressway and the interchange at Kottawa connecting the Southern Expressway to the Outer Circular Highway. The service center at Welipanna, is completed with modern facilities, play area for children, shops and restaurants.

The Southern Expressway will be connected to Colombo-Kandy Expressway and Colombo-Katunayake Airport Expressway that are currently under construction via the Colombo Outer Circular Highway which is expected to reduce the traffic congestion in the city and provide faster access to outskirts. Ayubowan! Sri Lanka № 35’2012 | December 19, 2012 4

Bolgoda Lake Bolgoda Lake was once an essential waterway linking outer Colombo to the Sinharaja forest, transporting timber into town during Dutch colonial times. Now, Bolgoda is considered a holiday spot. Located between Moratuwa and Panadura, Bolgoda is just a short drive away, and is the perfect choice for a quick weekend getaway. Bolgoda’s lifeline is its large lake, which continues on all the way until the Kalutara district, and many activities are centered on it.

Take a Boat ride. If you want to see the lake at a more sedate pace, then perhaps you might want to take a boat ride. You may pass a prawn farm, or perhaps an angler trying his luck for some fish. There are apparently crab traps too. At times, you may have to contend with the water hyacinth (known as ‘Japan jabara’ which spreads across the lake and makes it difficult to navigate.

Hire a Yacht, Canoe or Kayak. If you are looking for something a little different, the Ceylon Motor Yacht Club allows you to take a yacht out onto the late. They have races every Sunday and sometimes even venture out to open sea. There is a fleet for children as well. But you’ll need to either know a member or be one yourself to be able to use the club’s facilities. If kayaking is more your thing, then you can try the Bolgoda Lake Rowing Club. Again, it helps to know a member, but they too can provide kayaks or boats with a little advance notice. Perhaps you would rather just watch the boating; each year since 2003, the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka has organised a regatta at the Bolgoda Lake. Being a two kilometer course, it is of an international standard, so it is worth checking out.

Take the ferry to Ruskin Island. Ruskin Island is well-known to partygoers - it is the location for many an all night rave. But to get here, you have to take the ferry. It’s quite pleasant to stand out on the metal open-air ferry and glide over the lake at a sedate pace. You have to pay the boatman a small fee to get you across. Once on Ruskin Island, you will find a cluster of villas, some of which are holiday homes - Villa 14 is one of them. It is a good place for a morning walk.

Jet Ski. Bolgoda Lake is the site of many water based activities, and jet-skiing here is quite popular. But to do it, you need to call in advance.

Go Birdwatching. A keen birdwatcher will find much to amuse him or herself with. Walk along the edges of the Lake either between 9.30 and 10 a.m. or from around 3 p.m. to dusk, and you are likely to see more birds. But the biodiversity is richer in the southern part, from the Bandaragama side. In the northern parts, the open water offers less birds, and more plants and weeds. However, you might still spot the Whistling Teal, the Indian Cormorant, the Brahminy Kite or the White Bellied Sea Eagle. Along the borders of the lake, you might spot Egrets, Pond Herons, Purple Coots and White Breasted Water Hens. Rare sightings are of Purple and Grey Herons. There are certain birds which migrate to the Lake at certain times, like the Blue-tailed Bee Eater can sometimes be spotted flying overhead. So can the Wood Sand Piper. When the water is low, you might spy a White Ibis or a Spotbilled Pelican too. Just spend a little time and keep your eyes peeled, and you could be in for a treat. So the next time you fancy doing something a little different over the weekend, head over to Bolgoda- there is no excuse not to, since it is so close by.

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Villa 14, Bolgoda Villa 14 is situated on the private island resort of Ruskin Islands which is surrounded by the beautiful Bolgoda Lake. It is just a 30 minute drive from Colombo city. Waking up to the sunrise with the chirping of birds at a distance and then viewing the beauty of lake is no less than a dream come true for a nature enthusiast.

You can enjoy the Lake of Bolgoda, sun rising and birds chirping with your breakfast on the deck. You can also have an enclosed dinner set outdoors in the court yard with the stars sparkling above you. The chef is a master in belting out authentic Sri Lankan cuisines as well as delicacies from round the world. Traditional lobster, fish, prawns and crabs are a must have at Villa 14 and the best part is that they come from the lake itself!

The Villa has 6 rooms with Twin or King sized beds and air conditioner. Other facilities include swimming pool, Jacuzzi, water sports, romantic sailing pontoons and excursions. A guest can go on a trip around the island and enjoy the thrill of experiencing a close-up of wildlife and nature.

Address: 294/20 Ruskin Island, Diggala, Panadura Tel: +94 77 632 6321, +9471 917 6176 Email: [email protected] Web: www.villa14bolgoda.com

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Dear colleagues and friends! May the New Year bring you greater heights of success and prosperity, joy, warmth and peace!

Udayanga Weeratunga Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the DSR of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation

The Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Please send your articles, comments and inquiries: E-mail: [email protected] www.srilankaembassy.org

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