KANDY ESALA PERAHERA (Procession)If you want to see this spectacular procession, which started during the 3rd century CE and continued to this day, you should visit Sri Lanka during the month of July. This annual festival is a combination of the Dalada perahera and the Esala perahera. The Dalada procession is believed to have started when the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka during the 4th century CE, 800 years after the death of the Buddha. This two-fold aspect of the annual festival has many traditional dances, fire-dancers; whip dancers and a cultural mix of traditional dancers depicting the flag bearers of each region of Sri Lanka. Among all the ceremonial pomp and splendour of the perahera are the very noticeable, spectacularly adorned elephants walking gracefully with the crowd of whip crackers, flame throwers, traditional dancers, drummers and men carrying fire torches to light up the streets. This annual event has maintained its original theme, which to this day has not had much of a variation to its form.  Kandy Perahera 1885  Kandy Perahera 2018 The original esala perahera was an invocation to the guardian gods for rainfall needed for the cultivation of crops and enrichment of the lands of the kingdom. The temples dedicated to these guardian gods Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and goddess Pattini are built in the sacred temple grounds of the tooth relic of the buddha. The presence of these temples in Kandy ascertains a strong fusion of Hindu beliefs entwined with Buddhism long before the arrival of the tooth relic of the Buddha.
Leisure world Tours conducts itineraries that cover the Kandy perahera each year. Make reservations to witness this event for July 2020 with reg@leisureworldtours.net. Plan your holiday in Sri Lanka
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Travel Trends in Europe Travel to Europe is increasing steadily at around 30%. This is a good sign and we hope it will continue to rise. Britain is in a sort of turmoil with Brexit and the election of Boris Johnson to the realm, But tourism is still trending and that is an encouraging sign that all is not doom and gloom. From a demographic view among travellers Gen Z tops the list with an increase of 55 % in Spain, followed by the Netherlands with a whopping 95% increase by millennials. Gen X travellers loved Switzerland and Germany while Greece showed a 40% increase by baby boomers. Overall spending has decreased due to the rising costs in Europe although Greece has seen a 50% increase in spending by baby boomers. Breaking news Sri Lanka. Hurray! the government of Sri Lanka has decided to issue free visas for travellers, starting from August 2019 - January 2020. This is a very encouraging step and one set in the right direction. Ever since the suicide bombings in April this year, revenue from tourism dropped to zilch.
The recent bombings has had a very serious toll on tourism in Sri Lanka. Many workers in the hospitality industry lost their jobs as a result of the bombings. We encourage travellers to return to Sri Lanka and support the industry. Leisure World Tours has this all inclusive 12 day Sri Lanka holiday for you or email reg@leisuretravelsrilanka.com Brawl on P&O cruise ship Brawl on P&O cruise ship. Leisure World News This could happen anywhere. But on a cruise ship you are stuck with the perpetrators until you get to disembark at the nearest port or carry on regardless. This is the downside of happy cruising. Apparently media fake news put the blame on a clown that caused a fight to break out where furniture and plates were used as weapons of destruction and another story relates to the brawl being caused by a passenger dressed up as a clown. What a way to enjoy a good time on a cruise ship. I thought a clown makes people laugh and be as merry as a clown. Unfortunately not on this cruise ship though. These are isolated incidents probably fuelled by excess consumption of alcohol. Try a holiday in Sri Lanka instead. Second international airportBALI TO GET SECOND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Apparently the Bali governor, Wayan Koster mentioned during a speech in Denpasar Arts Centre that Bali would be getting a second international airport. They hope to relieve pressure from the influx of tourists arriving currently.
Another reason is to encourage an even distribution of tourist hot spots to areas in the North that don’t get many tourists visiting. It is hoped that tourists will move away from Seminyak and Kuta. It is to been seen that this airport will meet the needs of foreign holidaymakers. About 370 hectares of land at the Kubutambahan village and Sani Village will stand to gain from this transition. As a result, the new airport is envisaged to take about 70 percent of low cost flights from Australia normally operated by Jetstar, Air Asia and Lion Air. Visit Sri Lanka Ella Sri LankaLocals and tourists fall in love with this small mountain town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. You can get to this interesting hideout by train, bus, hire car or by requesting your travel agent to arrange a tour covering this beautiful back packers town. What you can do in Ella Little Adam's Peak For starters there are lots of interesting hiking trails. Little Adam's peak and Ella Gap are the most common trails. The trek to Horton planes and world's end is mesmerising. The scenic train ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella is the most interesting train journey you should not miss. Treks are best done in the early mornings and you can trek by yourself. You really don't need a guide. As there are quite a few fellow travellers you will pal up with while you hike.
There are around 350 0r more waterfalls in Sri Lanka. In Ella you can visit Ravana Water falls, Bomburu Ella waterfalls, Bambaragama, Diyaluma and Dumhinda waterfalls. If you are a nature lover and one that likes hikes then visiting as many waterfalls in Nuwara Eliya and Matale districts will attract your attention.
Nine Arch Bridge Ella
The nine arch bridge known commonly as the bridge in the sky is a reminder of colonial era construction. Many tourists and locals flock to this place to admire the beauty and surroundings. A good picturesque location. For tours and tailor made itineraries you can always rely on Leisure Travel Sri Lanka. We can put together an itinerary to suit your budget. Mail to: reg@leisuretravelsrilanka.com
or CALL +61 421 705 852  Breaking NewsMarriot is said to be releasing a new loyalty program called Bonvoy which is soon to replace the existing loyalty program. It is envisaged members will have more benefits with this new look launch. Customers wishing to book into the Marriot Sri Lanka can start taking advantage of this new benefit by signing up for membership.
Leisure Travel Sri Lanka will be will include in their itineraries a couple of days stay at the Marriot Beach Resort in Sri Lanka. Email your inquiry to reg@leisuretravelsrilanka.com
Visit to Kala Oya has become a "Must" for us since our first visit there last year. I have been saying this place teaches me what "Destitute" is. Unless one visits and sees it for themselves no words can aptly convey what tough conditions under which the residents survive here. It is a very well run facility but sadly it lacks regular "Supplies." We do our bit but there has to be something else that needs to be done to help the facility. Elderly people going without meals regularly is not nice. Those who are reading this piece please think about it. I am open to suggestions. It takes a mere $70 Australian to provide all meals and two teas daily for nearly twenty five people.
It is also in Kala Oya there is a little paradise hidden away about fifteen minutes of extremely slow drive from the main Puttalam - Anuradhapura Road. This place is surrounded by paddy fields on one side and a lovely secluded lake on the other. This "Cabana" is perched atop the banks of the lake which gives views, sights and sounds money cannot buy. The property is owned by Auril's best friend Scolestical's sister and family. Two nights here was just superb. The "Facilities" that add to the charm of this place: water tank on top of a mango tree that stands above the cabana, generator-run power supply which is available from about 6.30 pm to when it runs out of petrol, showers at the well, dip in the lake in which crocodile and human beings live in harmony, eating the catch of the day from the lake, eating mangoes just fallen off the tree, waking up listening to the sounds of lapping water below your feet, the chirping birds, sounds of peacocks, jumping fish, wonderful breeze off the lake....oh where do I stop?!  Our half day safari through Wilpathu National Park was great for one particular reason - leopards. We did not see any in Yala last year and this time in Wilpathu we spotted two of these spotted big cats! And both of them gave good sightings. I could photograph the second one and did not bother about the first because I simply wanted to "Take it all in" seeing a leopard in the wild for the first time. Wilpathu should really be done over a whole day as it is bigger than Yala and the vegetation is magnificent. We need to revisit this place.
And then we got to Jaffna and I have written plenty below most of the photos in my FB pages. Point Pedro, Causarina Beach, Thurkai Amman Temple in Tellipalai, Keerimalai, Nallur are some of the places we covered. Things happen because they are meant to happen as they did today. Our plan today was to visit Thurkai Amman Temple and keep moving and yet we ended up having a lovely lunch at the temple. We visited the temple as we planned and were invited to join them later for lunch. Still we were not sure but we moved on to visit my ancestral home and then Keerimalai. After Keerimalai we resolved to go back to the temple and join them for lunch. What a good decision it was. Nallur Temple |
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Visiting Nallur was just as inspiring in the evening. In my opinion Nallur temple sets the standard for Hindu temples in Sri Lanka and I walked away from this temple again with my opinion unchanged. The bells were pealed this evening and it got some more of my childhood memories flooding back. Magic!
Picture Gallery
Girls' home being run at Thurkai Temple. There are one hundred forty nine displaced girls being taken care of. They attend school, enter university and do very well for themselves. The board in this picture shows the Mission statement of this organisation
The riders of Sri Lanka’s premier mountain biking challenge, Sri Lankan Holidays’ Rumble in the Jungle 2016, rode through the challenging terrains of Haputale during Day 2 of their tour.
It was flagged off on 14 June from Kuda Oya in the Moneragala district.
Almost 40 riders representing 14 countries – Nepal, UK, Germany, Australia, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, and the United States, will be battling it out through mountain roads and off-road trails for a podium finish on 17 June in Kandy.
The race that was flagged off from Kuda Oya trailed along to Haputale and from thereon to Kalupahana, Horton Plains, Nuwara Eliya and Ramboda to be wound off in Kandy on 17 June.
Rumble in the Jungle 2016 is organised by international mountain bike race organizer The Yak Attack, in association with title sponsor, the national carrier’s leisure arm, Sri Lankan Holidays and Sri Lanka’s best known professional adventure sports promoter Lanka Sportreizen.
Pix by Lucia Griggi
It was flagged off on 14 June from Kuda Oya in the Moneragala district.
Almost 40 riders representing 14 countries – Nepal, UK, Germany, Australia, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, and the United States, will be battling it out through mountain roads and off-road trails for a podium finish on 17 June in Kandy.
The race that was flagged off from Kuda Oya trailed along to Haputale and from thereon to Kalupahana, Horton Plains, Nuwara Eliya and Ramboda to be wound off in Kandy on 17 June.
Rumble in the Jungle 2016 is organised by international mountain bike race organizer The Yak Attack, in association with title sponsor, the national carrier’s leisure arm, Sri Lankan Holidays and Sri Lanka’s best known professional adventure sports promoter Lanka Sportreizen.
Pix by Lucia Griggi
Any organisation interested in such events in Sri Lanka can make an enquiry HERE.
We will do the hard work for you.
We will do the hard work for you.
Source:ft.lk
JETWING JAFFNA
Jetwing-MMBL spearhead northern revival with Rs. 1 b hotel
Sunday 3 April was a landmark for the historic city of Jaffna, as well as for Sri Lanka tourism. In the wake of cool breeze blowing across the nearby Jaffna Lagoon, President Maithripala Sirisena declared open Jetwing Jaffna, a 55-room star class hotel that has changed the skyline of Jaffna.
Following the grand opening, President Sirisena said that he was happy to take part in the ceremonial occasion, as the hotel project demonstrated the investor confidence on the Northern Province in general and Jaffna Peninsula in particular, as well as resilience of the people in the peninsula.
He was accompanied by Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Affairs John Amaratunga, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Faiszer Musthapha, State Minister of Finance Lakshman Yapa Abeywardhana and MMBL-Pathfinder Group of Companies Founder Milinda Moragoda. Among others who graced the occasion were Governor of the Northern Province Reginald Cooray, MP Wijayakala Maheswaran and Jaffna Divisional Secretary K. Ganesh.
The state-of-the-art Jetwing Jaffna with its 55 standard and family rooms will be a welcome addition to Jaffna, which is displaying its vibrancy and taking commendable strides to regain it's former glory as the capital of Tamil culture. The hotel, consisting of eight floors and a basement, boasts of an air-conditioned restaurant on its second level that could accommodate over 100 guests and a rooftop sky lounge from where guests could have a bird’s eye view of the fast developing city, from the Kilali Lagoon in the east to the islands in the west and host of other buildings of religious and cultural significance.
Jetwing Jaffna stands tall in the heart of the city on the Clock Tower Road and will provide comfortable and modern accommodation facilities to visitors to the northern peninsula. In addition to accommodation for visitors, the hotel is also designed to provide banquet and meeting facilities to satisfy the needs of the local population as well as visitors to Jaffna.
Marshaling investment of over Rs. 1 billion for Jaffna is a commendable achievement by the Jetwing Hotels, MMBL-Pathfinder Group, Regency Teas and several others, who had placed their confidence in the project. Among the institutional investors is Leon Holdings, headed by a Sri Lankan expatriate hailing from Jaffna, who is a partner of a successful business venture in Europe. The project has also succeeded in providing employment for over 80 youths from Jaffna, who were provided with training in hospitality industry by Jetwing Hotels.
It has been a long and arduous journey for Yarl Hotels Ltd. to witness the successful culmination of the project. The land on which the hotel was constructed had been purchased in 1975 by late Deshamanya N.U. Jayawardena, the first Sri Lankan Governor of the Central Bank and entrepreneur, who realised the potential of Jaffna over 40 years ago. Jetwing Hotels and MMBL-Pathfinder Group took the policy decision to go ahead with the project in July 2010 and former Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne laid the foundation stone for the hotel in February 2012. It took four years for the project to come to fruition, overcoming numerous obstacles.
Speaking at the event Amaratunga said that there were others interested in investing in Jaffna and that the Ministry of Tourism Development was planning to open a hotel school in the peninsula. Jetwing Hotels Chairman Hiran Cooray and Governor Reginald Cooray invited the Tamil Diaspora to return to Sri Lanka and make use of the investment opportunities in the Northern Province. The Jetwing Hotels Chairman highlighted that it was a long and a difficult journey to realise the dream of having a Jetwing operated hotel in Jaffna.
“Despite initial difficulties we faced, I was convinced that Jaffna was ready for a modern hotel and youth in the peninsula would be eager to choose hospitality industry as a career option,” said Cooray.
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Sunday 3 April was a landmark for the historic city of Jaffna, as well as for Sri Lanka tourism. In the wake of cool breeze blowing across the nearby Jaffna Lagoon, President Maithripala Sirisena declared open Jetwing Jaffna, a 55-room star class hotel that has changed the skyline of Jaffna.
Following the grand opening, President Sirisena said that he was happy to take part in the ceremonial occasion, as the hotel project demonstrated the investor confidence on the Northern Province in general and Jaffna Peninsula in particular, as well as resilience of the people in the peninsula.
He was accompanied by Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Affairs John Amaratunga, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Faiszer Musthapha, State Minister of Finance Lakshman Yapa Abeywardhana and MMBL-Pathfinder Group of Companies Founder Milinda Moragoda. Among others who graced the occasion were Governor of the Northern Province Reginald Cooray, MP Wijayakala Maheswaran and Jaffna Divisional Secretary K. Ganesh.
The state-of-the-art Jetwing Jaffna with its 55 standard and family rooms will be a welcome addition to Jaffna, which is displaying its vibrancy and taking commendable strides to regain it's former glory as the capital of Tamil culture. The hotel, consisting of eight floors and a basement, boasts of an air-conditioned restaurant on its second level that could accommodate over 100 guests and a rooftop sky lounge from where guests could have a bird’s eye view of the fast developing city, from the Kilali Lagoon in the east to the islands in the west and host of other buildings of religious and cultural significance.
Jetwing Jaffna stands tall in the heart of the city on the Clock Tower Road and will provide comfortable and modern accommodation facilities to visitors to the northern peninsula. In addition to accommodation for visitors, the hotel is also designed to provide banquet and meeting facilities to satisfy the needs of the local population as well as visitors to Jaffna.
Marshaling investment of over Rs. 1 billion for Jaffna is a commendable achievement by the Jetwing Hotels, MMBL-Pathfinder Group, Regency Teas and several others, who had placed their confidence in the project. Among the institutional investors is Leon Holdings, headed by a Sri Lankan expatriate hailing from Jaffna, who is a partner of a successful business venture in Europe. The project has also succeeded in providing employment for over 80 youths from Jaffna, who were provided with training in hospitality industry by Jetwing Hotels.
It has been a long and arduous journey for Yarl Hotels Ltd. to witness the successful culmination of the project. The land on which the hotel was constructed had been purchased in 1975 by late Deshamanya N.U. Jayawardena, the first Sri Lankan Governor of the Central Bank and entrepreneur, who realised the potential of Jaffna over 40 years ago. Jetwing Hotels and MMBL-Pathfinder Group took the policy decision to go ahead with the project in July 2010 and former Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne laid the foundation stone for the hotel in February 2012. It took four years for the project to come to fruition, overcoming numerous obstacles.
Speaking at the event Amaratunga said that there were others interested in investing in Jaffna and that the Ministry of Tourism Development was planning to open a hotel school in the peninsula. Jetwing Hotels Chairman Hiran Cooray and Governor Reginald Cooray invited the Tamil Diaspora to return to Sri Lanka and make use of the investment opportunities in the Northern Province. The Jetwing Hotels Chairman highlighted that it was a long and a difficult journey to realise the dream of having a Jetwing operated hotel in Jaffna.
“Despite initial difficulties we faced, I was convinced that Jaffna was ready for a modern hotel and youth in the peninsula would be eager to choose hospitality industry as a career option,” said Cooray.
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Ireland is a country with a population of just under six million and a tremendous appetite for travel. According to economic experts, the country is coming out of recession and now with the recent arrival of large American conglomerates to the country due to tax incentives, unemployment is down and people have disposable income to spend on holidays.
The Holiday World Show, now in its 25th year, provided a cost-effective opportunity to connect with travel and trade consumers to promote Sri Lanka’s travel and tourism products across Ireland.
Since attending the event in January 2015, Sri Lanka Tourism recorded a 15.6% growth in the Irish market with 5,970 visitors coming to the country in 2015.
This year Sri Lanka Tourism’s representative in London attended the Holiday World Show for consumers and trade in Dublin, Ireland for the third consecutive time to showcase its tourist attractions.Attending the Dublin Consumer Fair enabled Sri Lanka Tourism to reach more than 41,000 potential Irish consumers to create awareness about the destination. The exhibition was attended by almost 775 travel and tourism professionals, representing more than 103 different countries.
This year’s Holiday Show attracted 41,900 visitors and 541 exhibitors.
Eoghan Corry, an Irish journalist and author regarded as the most extensively journeyed travel writer in Ireland who visited Sri Lanka in 2015 under a special journalist program, in a two-page article in Travel Extra magazine, highlighted the cultural side of Sri Lanka through images of dancers walking across hot coals in Kandy, people on top of Sigiriya, a turtle sanctuary and an elephant bath at Pinnawala. A copy of the magazine was given to all those who came to the show.
During the four-day show, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board managed to have meetings with large numbers of trade partners and journalists. Meetings were held with journalists with the view of arranging individual trips or media familiarisation trips to gain the maximum publicity for the destination in the Irish market.
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The Holiday World Show, now in its 25th year, provided a cost-effective opportunity to connect with travel and trade consumers to promote Sri Lanka’s travel and tourism products across Ireland.
Since attending the event in January 2015, Sri Lanka Tourism recorded a 15.6% growth in the Irish market with 5,970 visitors coming to the country in 2015.
This year Sri Lanka Tourism’s representative in London attended the Holiday World Show for consumers and trade in Dublin, Ireland for the third consecutive time to showcase its tourist attractions.Attending the Dublin Consumer Fair enabled Sri Lanka Tourism to reach more than 41,000 potential Irish consumers to create awareness about the destination. The exhibition was attended by almost 775 travel and tourism professionals, representing more than 103 different countries.
This year’s Holiday Show attracted 41,900 visitors and 541 exhibitors.
Eoghan Corry, an Irish journalist and author regarded as the most extensively journeyed travel writer in Ireland who visited Sri Lanka in 2015 under a special journalist program, in a two-page article in Travel Extra magazine, highlighted the cultural side of Sri Lanka through images of dancers walking across hot coals in Kandy, people on top of Sigiriya, a turtle sanctuary and an elephant bath at Pinnawala. A copy of the magazine was given to all those who came to the show.
During the four-day show, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Board managed to have meetings with large numbers of trade partners and journalists. Meetings were held with journalists with the view of arranging individual trips or media familiarisation trips to gain the maximum publicity for the destination in the Irish market.
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Sri Lanka’s first Safari Park at Ridiyagama in Hambantota in the Southern Province opened Monday (28 March) for the local as well as foreign tourists. The 500-acre park provides an environment for the animals to roam freely within the park.
Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife Gamini Jayawickrema Perera accompanied by Housing and Construction Sajith Premadasa, Deputy Minister Sumedha Jayasena and Hambantota district parliamentarian Chamal Rajapaksa declared open the park for the public.
The construction work at the first Safari Park in the island started in 2008 under the direction of The National Zoological Department. The park, being built under two phases, covers an expanse of about 500 acres. It also contains a public entertainment zone extending to about 69 acres. Four of the park’s six zones will be reserved for carnivorous animals while the remaining two zones will be set apart for the herbivores. Two zones of the carnivore section will be exclusively reserved for the dangerous animals such as lions, tigers, and leopards. The first phase with the African Lion Zone, Sri Lanka Elephant Zone and World Zone was opened today. The Lions were released to the African Zone Saturday. The animals can move freely in the park.
African, Asian, Australian Zones and a small animal kingdom will be built under the second phase.
A special bus service will be available for the tourists to move around the park. The park consists of all facilities such as animal hospitals, internal road network and vehicle parks. Waste disposal methodologies have been introduced to protect the environment.
The Safari Park constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.6 billion is seen as an avenue to attract more tourists to the island and a boom to the tourism industry.
Wildlife Tours Sri Lanka
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FPearl Fishers Opera in Australia is famous amongst many tourists around the world. Pearl Fishers Opera is famous for the duet which has been performed by many world renowned opera singers such as Placido Domingo and Andrea Boccelli.
A promotional campaign arranged by Sri Lanka Tourism in collaboration with the Consulate General for Sri Lanka in Sydney was successfully completed at the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House on 12 March during the final performance of Pearl Fishers Opera which was played to a packed house of 1,500 patrons.
A thousand packs of Ceylon Tea gifted by Dilmah Tea together with the Sri Lanka Tourism brochures were handed out to the patrons by the staff of the Sydney Opera House. The Pearl Fishers teaser was shown on widescreen TVs in the lobbies of the Opera House which too was a great promotion for Sri Lanka as a destination as the back drop of this opera was of Ceylon and the cast wore colourful saris and costumes of ancient Ceylon.
The Sydney Opera House staff and that of the Consulate General for Sri Lanka in Sydney carried out the promotion with precision. The logistics involved were arduous and the stringent requirements of the Opera House management were met very satisfactorily. The Pearl Fishers Opera will be performed in Melbourne in May.
Australia is a key market for tourism and in the 12 months to Dec 2015 tourist arrivals were at 57,940 which was 7% increase year-on-year.
For tours on Sri Lanka go Here
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A promotional campaign arranged by Sri Lanka Tourism in collaboration with the Consulate General for Sri Lanka in Sydney was successfully completed at the Joan Sutherland Theatre of the Sydney Opera House on 12 March during the final performance of Pearl Fishers Opera which was played to a packed house of 1,500 patrons.
A thousand packs of Ceylon Tea gifted by Dilmah Tea together with the Sri Lanka Tourism brochures were handed out to the patrons by the staff of the Sydney Opera House. The Pearl Fishers teaser was shown on widescreen TVs in the lobbies of the Opera House which too was a great promotion for Sri Lanka as a destination as the back drop of this opera was of Ceylon and the cast wore colourful saris and costumes of ancient Ceylon.
The Sydney Opera House staff and that of the Consulate General for Sri Lanka in Sydney carried out the promotion with precision. The logistics involved were arduous and the stringent requirements of the Opera House management were met very satisfactorily. The Pearl Fishers Opera will be performed in Melbourne in May.
Australia is a key market for tourism and in the 12 months to Dec 2015 tourist arrivals were at 57,940 which was 7% increase year-on-year.
For tours on Sri Lanka go Here
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For those who want to explore the beauty of Sri Lanka, Google Maps now offer a virtual tour along the main roads of the island from North to South and East to West.
In a blog post titled “Ayubowan Sri Lanka!”, Nishant Nair, Program Manager, Google’s APAC Street View Operations, says to capture the island’s imagery, the Google team drove close to 50,000 kilometers across every state and province so that the viewer can virtually explore this beautiful landscape from coast to coast.
Nair writes that Sri Lanka has become an increasingly popular travel destination, especially for those who want to explore the country’s rich history and natural beauty and now even more people around the world will be able to discover some of the jewels that this fine island has to offer with Google’s Street View.
The virtual tour is also available on the iOS and Android systems.
When the explorer Marco Polo visited Sri Lanka in 1265, he described it as “the finest island of its size in all the world.” Tourists from around the world agree, as it’s become an increasingly popular travel destination, especially for those who want to explore the country’s rich history and natural beauty. Now even more people around the world will be able to discover some of the jewels that this fine island has to offer — minus the treacherous sea voyage — with Street View. From the hustle and bustle of downtown Colombo, to the cool tea plantation hills, and onwards to the sandy white beaches, Sri Lanka is as beautiful as it is diverse. To capture this imagery, we drove close to 50,000 kilometers across every state and province so that you can virtually explore this beautiful landscape from coast to coast.
Start your tour — perhaps with a cup of Ceylon tea in hand — on the winding Beragala-Hali Ela Highway. Home to many of the world’s best brews, you’ll be able to see people growing, picking and packing tea among the lush rolling hills along the way. For even more majestic jungle and some mountain views, take a tour along the country’s first modern highway — the Colombo-Kandy road. Starting in Sri Lanka’s biggest city, you will journey through some spectacular scenery as you head inland to Kandy where you can see the relic of the tooth of Buddha. You can then take virtual leap across the island to the Kandy-Jaffna highway, which heads out to the coast and down to the Elephant Pass Causeway. While you may not see any elephants, this stretch of road connecting North and South Sri Lanka gives you a 360 degree view of the Indian Ocean on either side of the road.
While you’re on the coast why not check out Arugum Bay? This popular surfing spot in the country’s southeast is renowned for its amazing point break. If you prefer spending time on the sand rather than on a board, the sleepy little fishing village of Point Pedro on the northern tip of the island has some pristine beaches to explore.
Once you’ve taken in Sri Lanka’s natural beauty, you might be ready to take in some culture. Head north to Anuradhapura, and catch a glimpse of the ancient Ruwanwelisaya Stupa. Believed to have been visited by the Buddha himself, it was built in 140 B.C. and today remains one of the world’s tallest monuments, standing at over 100 meters.
Why not complete your tour by heading back to Colombo where you can see Old Parliament House. Built during the British colonial era, it is home to the first democratic parliament, and the Independence Memorial Hall which commemorates Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule 1948. We hope that visiting Sri Lanka with Google Maps (available on iOS and Android) will inspire a deeper appreciation for the beauty and history of this beautiful country. Whether you continue your journey in Google Maps or are inspired to visit in person, we invite you to enjoy the Land of Lions.
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In a blog post titled “Ayubowan Sri Lanka!”, Nishant Nair, Program Manager, Google’s APAC Street View Operations, says to capture the island’s imagery, the Google team drove close to 50,000 kilometers across every state and province so that the viewer can virtually explore this beautiful landscape from coast to coast.
Nair writes that Sri Lanka has become an increasingly popular travel destination, especially for those who want to explore the country’s rich history and natural beauty and now even more people around the world will be able to discover some of the jewels that this fine island has to offer with Google’s Street View.
The virtual tour is also available on the iOS and Android systems.
When the explorer Marco Polo visited Sri Lanka in 1265, he described it as “the finest island of its size in all the world.” Tourists from around the world agree, as it’s become an increasingly popular travel destination, especially for those who want to explore the country’s rich history and natural beauty. Now even more people around the world will be able to discover some of the jewels that this fine island has to offer — minus the treacherous sea voyage — with Street View. From the hustle and bustle of downtown Colombo, to the cool tea plantation hills, and onwards to the sandy white beaches, Sri Lanka is as beautiful as it is diverse. To capture this imagery, we drove close to 50,000 kilometers across every state and province so that you can virtually explore this beautiful landscape from coast to coast.
Start your tour — perhaps with a cup of Ceylon tea in hand — on the winding Beragala-Hali Ela Highway. Home to many of the world’s best brews, you’ll be able to see people growing, picking and packing tea among the lush rolling hills along the way. For even more majestic jungle and some mountain views, take a tour along the country’s first modern highway — the Colombo-Kandy road. Starting in Sri Lanka’s biggest city, you will journey through some spectacular scenery as you head inland to Kandy where you can see the relic of the tooth of Buddha. You can then take virtual leap across the island to the Kandy-Jaffna highway, which heads out to the coast and down to the Elephant Pass Causeway. While you may not see any elephants, this stretch of road connecting North and South Sri Lanka gives you a 360 degree view of the Indian Ocean on either side of the road.
While you’re on the coast why not check out Arugum Bay? This popular surfing spot in the country’s southeast is renowned for its amazing point break. If you prefer spending time on the sand rather than on a board, the sleepy little fishing village of Point Pedro on the northern tip of the island has some pristine beaches to explore.
Once you’ve taken in Sri Lanka’s natural beauty, you might be ready to take in some culture. Head north to Anuradhapura, and catch a glimpse of the ancient Ruwanwelisaya Stupa. Believed to have been visited by the Buddha himself, it was built in 140 B.C. and today remains one of the world’s tallest monuments, standing at over 100 meters.
Why not complete your tour by heading back to Colombo where you can see Old Parliament House. Built during the British colonial era, it is home to the first democratic parliament, and the Independence Memorial Hall which commemorates Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule 1948. We hope that visiting Sri Lanka with Google Maps (available on iOS and Android) will inspire a deeper appreciation for the beauty and history of this beautiful country. Whether you continue your journey in Google Maps or are inspired to visit in person, we invite you to enjoy the Land of Lions.
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Many tourists from all over the world visit Sri Lanka to witness cultural and religious parades each month due to its unique traditional dances, costumes, instruments and music providing an important glimpse in to Sri Lanka's rich culture and heritage. The Navam Perahera is a celebration of sights, sounds, colours and music with numerous historical, cultural and traditional aspects featured during this elegant religious cultural parade.
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Minister of Tourism Development John Amaratunga discussing some of the current issues facing the industry with the newly-appointed Tourism Promotion Bureau MD Ruvini Dias Bandaranayake and Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Paddy Withana recently.
The Ministry of Tourism Development is concerned by recent media reports on the exploitation and harassment of foreign tourists. This is in a backdrop where the Ministry has also been receiving an increasing number of direct complaints from tourists. Considering the emerging trend the Ministry has called on the Police Department to immediately revamp the Tourist Police to suit the current needs.
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Biking in Florence and Tuscany (Italy) – Tuscany Bike Tours
Looking for a biking tour? Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Versilia hills, the sea coast, visit Pisa and Cinque. Ride paths never reached on foot or bus.
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Guided tours by Francesco, a friendly and professional guide. Francesco will take you through the historical cities as Pisa and Lucca. You will pass through the beautiful hill towns of Versilia Riviera, Liguria Cinque Terre, Mount Marcello, fishing villages of Portovenere and Lerici.
Admire the beautiful architecture ofTuscany and get to know all the secrets of the wonderful towns on our Hills!. Relax and enjoy the tour and even taste a wonderful Gelato/ice cream. There are many favourite bars where you can stop for a snack and admire the panoramic views of the terrain.
Contact your cycling guide Francesco Bartalini of Italy. Phone: 39+3293340959
For more information please email: info@leisuretravelsrilanka.com
Tuscan Accommodation and attractions
Sleeps 8-10 persons
Bike routes and Amazing picturesque Terrain in Tuscany.
BIKING PACKAGES
All tours leave from Versilia Riviera on an average of 70 km with a slope of 5% - 7%
PACKAGE 01:
NIGHTS: 3
MEALS: HALFBOARD PER PERSON
ACCOMMODATION: 3 STAR
START: FRI/SAT/SUN
COST: EURO 290 PER PERSON
NIGHTS: 3
MEALS: HALFBOARD PER PERSON
ACCOMMODATION: 3 STAR
START: FRI/SAT/SUN
COST: EURO 290 PER PERSON
PACKAGE 02:
NIGHTS: 4
MEALS: HALFBOARD PER PERSON
ACCOMMODATION: 3 STAR
START: THU/FRI/SAT/SUN
COST: EURO 390 PER PERSON
NIGHTS: 4
MEALS: HALFBOARD PER PERSON
ACCOMMODATION: 3 STAR
START: THU/FRI/SAT/SUN
COST: EURO 390 PER PERSON
PACKAGE 03:
NIGHTS: 5
MEALS: HALFBOARD PER PERSON
ACCOMMODATION: 3 STAR
START: WED/THU/FRI/SAT/SUN
COST: EURO 484 PER PERSON
NIGHTS: 5
MEALS: HALFBOARD PER PERSON
ACCOMMODATION: 3 STAR
START: WED/THU/FRI/SAT/SUN
COST: EURO 484 PER PERSON
PACKAGE 04:
NIGHTS: 6
MEALS: HALFBOARD PER PERSON
ACCOMMODATION: 3 STAR
START: TUE/WED/THU/FRI/SAT/SUN
COST: EURO 575 PER PERSON
NIGHTS: 6
MEALS: HALFBOARD PER PERSON
ACCOMMODATION: 3 STAR
START: TUE/WED/THU/FRI/SAT/SUN
COST: EURO 575 PER PERSON
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T + 61 421 705 852
E: info@leisureworldtours.net / info@leisuretravelsrilanka.com
Skype: regdelivera1
LIC: ABN 25893482863
E: info@leisureworldtours.net / info@leisuretravelsrilanka.com
Skype: regdelivera1
LIC: ABN 25893482863
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