6 The Nation EYE, Sunday September 12, 2010 FEATURE The Nation EYE, Sunday September 12, 2010 7

HOTEL COMPETITION The Nation EYE, together with the Mount Lavinia Hotel is holding a competition for our readers. Answer a simple question from the write-up about the hotel and stand a chance to win a dinner voucher for two from the Mount Lavinia Hotel each week. Taking water Please fi ll in the coupon below with the correct answer and send it to: The Nation EYE, 742, Maradana Road, 10. One person can send any number of coupons but photocopies of the coupon are not accepted.

Question: What is the name of the architect who completed the sport to current classic wing in 1894? Answer: ...... Name: ...... Contact number: ...... Email: ...... higher level Postal Address: ...... BY VINDYA AMARANAYAKE

e all like to play in the water, when we are young and with no responsibilities. FrolickingW in the sea, a river, a SSAVINGAVING THETHE stream or even a muddy pool of water is something that we all have done in our youth. But, how many of us would continue the habit into our adulthood and take it on as a profession. Only a few. With the end of the 30-year war last year and many SSURFERS’URFERS’ PARADISEPARADISE countries withdrawing the negative travel advisories against visiting , the tourist arrivals to the island nation have increased manifold. And, one of the most looked BY ANURADHA ALAHAKOON velopment versus Conservation. The forward to event for most challenge of sustaining both. Tradition meets tourists is surface water sports. hareef Nana is a long time It is an undeniable fact that the The Nation caught up with someone who resident of Arugam Bay. A small-time hotel operators in the area has taken up the sport professionally, to devoted Muslim like many depend on tourism. Experts do agree learn why so many tourists come here to of his neighbours, he oper- that the question of sustaining their modernity at engage in surface water sports and why ates a small hotel. His rooms livelihood is an issue of concern, the locals are not so keen about the sport. are simple. A thatched roof, when talking of conservation. The “More than 80% of the tourists who mudS walls and a simple bathroom. He people should have a livelihood, and come here, are keen about water sports. depends on this beach destination for their basic needs must be sustained, Galle Face Hotel Most of them are quite familiar with his livelihood. It was a lucrative busi- if we are to consider participatory the types of water sports and some need ness before the war broke out. Also, conservation with the stakeholders. training. But they are quite enthusiastic his small hotel was badly damaged by “When we go to the fi eld to study el- he Galle Face about the sport,” H. Sujith Priyanandana, the tsunami. He tells me how dreadful ephant conservation, we sometimes Hotel, established who provides training for those who love it was when the wave came to hit him, wonder how to balance the liveli- as far back as playing in the water. “We saw the ocean recede and then, a hood of the people and protect the in 1864, is world One of the main reasons why Sri Lanka big wave came roaring. Fortunately, I elephants. We know that the people’s famous for being attracts so many tourists is the deep had the presence of mind to run for my livelihood comes under threat in some one of the most blue Indian Ocean that surrounds the life,” he says. areas. It is very diffi cult to get partici- exquisite hotels east of the Now the tsunami has gone and more T island. And then there are hundreds of patory action in such situations” says Suez. rivers cascading towards the ocean from importantly, the civil war is over. For- an Ecologist from IUCN. This same The beautiful architecture, eigners as well as southern locals who question applies to the coastal habitat the Central Hills. This provides ample (Pix by Isuru De Zoysa) breath-taking views of the opportunities for tourists to engage in had never seen the large stretches of conservation. deep blue Indian Ocean various forms of water sports. sand such as in Arugam Bay, are fl ock- and being in the centre of sails and many more. ing to the beach on vacation. Conservation It was not long ago that two Sujith runs a tourist lodge in Colombo’s commercial hub international surfi ng championships While preparing the crab curry for The coastal habitat is a diverse sys- are only few virtues that bring Kaluwamodara, Aluthgama called Ranga dinner for us, he decides to stay in his were held in Sri Lanka; one in the Holiday Inn. He is also a member of PJ tem which sustains a human commu- dwell inside a hotel room. They come thousands of tourists to this Southern town of Hikkaduwa and ‘resort’ (as he calls it) Shareef tells me nity as well. This is a system where to see the natural beauty. So, the justi- century-old hotel year after Mono Sport. He developed an interest about the main speciality of Arugam the other, the Eastern beach town of in water sport at the age of 16, when humans link in diverse ways with fi cation of conservation is right there. year. Arugambay. Bay. “People don’t come to this beach resources in natural surroundings. We cannot sustain the beauty with- The hotel was originally he was a student at the Aluthgama to bathe. The sea is always rough here. “Sri Lanka is a tropical island. Here Maha Vidyalaya. Today, he is married It may be the fi shermen who get their out conserving the ecosystem” says built by four British But there is something special. There Vimukthi Kariyavasam a biodiversity it is sunny all-year round; no seasonal with three children. And his eldest son, daily ‘bread’ from the sea, coastal entrepreneurs. The hotel also employs the is a special current here which helps coordinator from IUCN. changes. Therefore we have a good nine-year-old Kavindu Deshal is already dwellers who depend on the land or Its name derives from the world’s oldest hospitality surfi ng. People all over the world One problem here in Arugam Bay is opportunity to promote Sri Lanka as a mastering water sports. the holidaymakers who come for a stretch of lawn which it faces, industry veteran and doorman, know this tiny spot for its speciality, the dumping of waste on the beach. In water sport destination,” Sujith pointed He has also represented Sri Lanka at short visit to the beach. The diverse known as the Galle Face Kottarapattu Chattu (K.C.) and come here for one thing. That is Sri Lanka, people take the open spaces out. international water sports events: “I have needs of each group must be taken Green. Kuttan. Joining the hotel as a to surf,” says Shareef. for granted. They will dump garbage However, how many locals are keen to won many water sports events held in into consideration when we talk of It began as a Dutch villa bell boy cum waiter in 1942, he He is right. Situated nearly 200km in the nearest open space. Whenever Arugam Bay region a picturesque take up the sport? Not many. Although Bentota. Once I was part of a six-member the coastal conservation. called Galle Face House. Land continues to serve. east of Colombo on the coast, near Po- a hotel is planned, there should also site. Sand mining of the sand dunes there are some locals, mainly from team that went to Beijing, China to take The knowledge of the local commu- for the hotel’s expansion was Many a celebrity client tuvil, Arugam Bay is a world famous be a plan for solid waste disposal and for development activities, including Colombo, who show some interest in the part in a water sports competition. They nity and their commitment towards purchased between 1870 and stayed at the Galle Face Hotel, site for surfi ng. It is one of the hot sewage disposal. There are many ways building of hotels, is a major threat to sport, it is not a pastime that attracts were impressed by our competitiveness. conservation is very important for 1894. when they visited Sri Lanka. spots for this sport, and all surf lovers to treat the waste and discharge. But the sand dunes in Sri Lanka. many. And the reason is the expenses. They were of the impression in Sri Lanka future planning. It is interesting to In 1894, architect Thomas Among the most famed know the destination, though some seldom do our hoteliers adhere to this Nature once showed the importance “There are some locals who are the only sport in practice was cricket!” note the results of a study conducted Skinner completed its current celebrities were Yuri Gagarin, Barefoot of them do not know of Sri Lanka. practice. As we could see, heaps of of sand dunes by sending a tsunami! interested in water sports. They are Despite being surrounded by water on by two researchers from the Eastern classic wing, its facade former British Prime minister If you happen to search the Internet garbage were seen near some hotels, It is reported in many instances that mainly the rich folk from Colombo. There  is similar to surfi ng, but all four directions and having so many University of Sri Lanka- P. Sivarajah being largely intact until the Edward Heath, Princess for surfi ng sites, you would defi nitely and were at the mercy of stray dogs to the effect of the tsunami was less in is a belief among the locals that water the board is smaller and the person rivers fl owing through the country, Sri and M. Anas. They studied two vil- present day, though with many Alexandra of Denmark, Prince come across Arugam Bay. Also, it is spread it along the beach. regions protected by undisturbed sand sport is an expensive pastime. It is true (normally) lies down on the board Lankan locals are not yet serious about lages in Potuvil, to fi nd out their de- refurbishments. Phillip, journalist Eric Ellis that certain kinds of equipment are  interesting to look at some of the his- pendency on sand dunes and coastal dunes. Even the coastal hotels were Mignonne Fernando and The Canoeing surface water sports. Although we have torical snap shots of Arugam Bay and Sand Dunes protected from the tsunami by the nat- and photographer Palani expensive. For example, a good quality Flowboarding medal winning swimmers, it does not villages. They found that there is a Jetliners regularly entertained Mohan, Prince Sadruddhin water ski board costs about USD 850.  see how the landscape changed, and heavy dependency for their average ural cover from the sand dunes. The guests at the Coconut Grove, extend beyond that. Sujith believes that how still much of it remains. It is in- Arugam Bay and its surroundings Yala Village Hotel was surprisingly Aga Khan, Rigger Bone Sconi, However, a beginner can buy one for USD  where a person is towed this sport should be taken seriously by family income of Rs 6,746 from fi sh- are environmentally unique in one the night club attached to the then-Prince Hirohito of 350,” Sujith, who is conducting water teresting to see how some of the elites ing and coastal resource exploitation. protected from tsunami waves because hotel. behind a vehicle (usually a ) while the authorities, especially at a time when in our society enjoy at Arugam Bay in other aspect. That is because of the of the undisturbed sand dune barrier. Japan, Roger Moore, Carrie sport training sessions in Aluthgama attached to a parachute there is an increasing demand for the Coastal resource exploitation activi- presence of sand dunes. Sand dunes The venue was even Fisher, Richard Nixon, Lord said.  the 1950s. I tried to visualise the sur- ties included sand mining and turtle In contrast, Yala Safari Hotel which popularised in a song. Radio sport by the tourists. roundings of Shareef ’s humble resort are special regions which have been didn’t have such protection, was wiped Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl He added that it is not entirely true  “Engine parts for are very egg poaching. More importantly, vil- built naturally on the beach, which Ceylon recorded music Mountbatten of Burma and that one cannot enjoy water sport if there  to recollect the past which I have seen lagers had a good knowledge of the out by the tsunami. Also the Muhudu programmes from the Coconut using the wind for propulsion expensive. There must be a tax in the Internet. look like heaps or mountains of sand Maha Viharaya at Arugam Bay was Marshal Josip Broz Tito. are no expensive equipment. He uses Stand up paddle surfi ng a surf style concession on those items. It is better if importance of coastal resources. But stretching along a large area. Sri Lan- Grove as well as the Galle Face Having stayed at the hotel, innovative methods to engage in water Yes. Indeed there is something capti- a very poor understanding of the de- saved from tsunami damage because Hotel itself, presented by some board with a paddle, used in fl atwater there is some training before actually vating in these surroundings. You can ka’s east coast is home to the longest of these sand barriers. Princess Alexandra of sports. For example, the saucepan. This or waves getting into water sports. There has to be pleting resources due to exploitation. stretch of sand dunes in the country. of the legendary Radio Ceylon Denmark commented, “The aluminum kitchen utensil is quite light in  feel how close you are to nature, when The concern and the attraction of India is also home to sand dunes announcers in the 1950s and White Water Rafting a training institution for those who are you wake up early morning at Arugam The sand dunes near Arugam Bay and they have evidence to show the peacefulness and generosity weight and can be used in water sports.  is similar to water the coastal tourist is the beauty of the extends from Potuvil to the shores of 1960s, such as Livy Wijemanne There are various forms of surface serious about learning the art of water Bay. It was one of the few sites one can importance of sand dunes for the encountered at the Galle Face skiing, but using only one board beach. That is why Sri Lanka now has Panama. and Vernon Corea. water sports: sports,” he said. remember for a lifetime. The sun was coastal belt. In a recent media briefi ng around the world. On the other hand, Hoteliers should also realise that Hotel cannot be matched”. attached to the feet become a competitor to other Asian Sand dunes are less studied eco-sys- Thousands listened to the  The best part about surface water just emerging, and the whole horizon workshop organised by the Centre for if we do not act responsibly, there the modern consumer is intelligent The Ceylon Hotels Skurfi ng is where the participant Water skiing using skiis to slide over beach destinations such as tems in Sri Lanka. The writings and broadcasts, particularly ‘New sports is that there is no age barrier; “As glows in colours of the rainbow. It is Science & Environment in Goa, India, will not be a paradise in the future. and environmentally conscious. That Corporation is now part of the “skurfs” behind a boat on a the water while being pulled by a boat Goa in India. Though they publications are little. But these Year’s Eve’ dances from the  long as you are in good health, there is no like a painting from a creative artist. scientists, policymakers and activists The challenge of the development is why terms like “green marketing” Galle Face Hotel Group. Barefoot water skiing is waterskiing or other device have a coastline, the beau- are very important ecosystems Galle Face Hotel. problem. I use safety precautions such as This is paradise for the surfers, and got together to debate on the coastal is- policymaker is to strike a balance and conducting environmentally The hotel is a member of with no skiis Windsurfi ng on fl at water using wind ty of the Sri Lankan coast- too. The sand dunes are natural D G William (known as  life jackets, so there is nothing to worry how they wake up for the day. Now is sues in India. Antionio Mascarahast, between development and sustaining friendly business has come to light. Select Hotels and Resorts is the use of boats for propulsion in combination with line cannot be matched. coastal protectors, just like coral ‘Galle Face William’), the about.” the time to come to our senses to think a scientist from the National Institute the environment. Destroying the sand dunes to build International. “We should think of the reefs in shallow waters near the Lanka Sama Samaja Party The current chairman of the more deeply about preserving this primary intention of a of Oceanography, pointed out how the We should invite corporate entities hotels will wipe out the investment in trade union leader, fi rst worked beauty for future generations. shore. Sand dunes protect the removal of sand dunes intensifi ed hotel is Sanjeev Gardiner. He tourist fi rst. Most of the shore line from the erosive wave such as SriLankan Airlines who pro- a future tsunami! Nature once showed and organised workers here. coastal erosion. He showed how he mote tourism events in this area, to us this. was appointed after the demise tourists come to Sri energy. Also these are important The Science fi ction author of his father Cyril Gardiner in Grand Promotions and Grand Lanka not to tried very hard to protect and recreate actively participate to communicate Arthur C. Clarke wrote the grounds for shore line plants to some of the sand dunes in the region, (Pix by Pushpakumara Matugama) 1997. Tourism grow, and these become unique the message of Environmental con- fi nal chapters of 3001 – The and got very little attention from the servation. The promotions for tour- Final Odyssey It is listed as one of the ‘1,000 Surfers are in love habitats with special adapta- in the hotel. authorities. This is the common sad ism in coastal habitats should always Places to See Before You Die’ in with this destination. tions. The Regency, located in the story throughout South Asia. come along with a conservation mes- the book of the same name. The affairs get more Sand dunes found restored southern wing of the sage. As experts point out, sustaining It received the ‘Best intimate. Nobody can in the vicinity of Aru- hotel was completed in early Safeguarding Paradise the Tourism industry along the coast, Heritage Hotel 2010’ title at the blame them. It is their gam Bay, adds beauty 2006. depends on preserving the natural Presidential Awards for Travel paradise to ride the waves. to the landscape It is indeed a challenge to safe- It is marketed as the luxury guard this paradise known to surfers eco-system. and Tourism of Sri Lanka, It is also a unique promo- and makes the wing of the hotel. held in June 2010. tional attraction for Sri Lanka’s Tourism industry. SriLankan Air- lines held a ‘SriLankan Airlines Pro 2010’, a six-star rated Surfi ng tourna- ment in June. This was conducted by the Association of Surfi ng Profession- als, the world’s governing body of this sport. It was a grand event and the media coverage was massive. Some media quoted surfers saying, “What a destination to surf !” All sorts of tourist promotions now have now created a demand in this area and hoteliers are looking for- ward to investments. Developments in the vicinity are coming day by day, and Arugam Bay is heading for a ma- jor tourist invasion. All this creates a challenge to Arugam Bay, though it is a hot spot for tourism, it is an ecologi- cally important natural habitat. The all important debate and challenge An innovative method to engage in water sports Sujith, conducting Kavindu Deshal in action comes to light in this scenario. De- (using kitchen utensil) training sessions