News Update
JETLINER SAILS ON SCENIC SUNSET CRUISE
Due to popular demand, The Sri Lanka Navy JETLINER is once again sailing into the beautiful Golden Sunset. The much awaited Jetliner Sunset Cruise is scheduled to sail from the Port of Colombo on Saturday the 07th of April 2012 at 1700 Hrs (for those of you who are not familiar with 24hr clocks, this means 5:00pm).
According to the organizers, tickets are priced at Rs.3,500/= per adult and Rs.2,000/= for children between 5-12 years. Children below 5yrs are Free Of Charge. Ticket price includes Welcome Drink, Buffet Dinner, DJ and Live Band Entertainment. There is also face painting for the kids and a Magic show.
Call Travel Gateway on 0115 551551 for more details and tickets.
Yala in November - December
Month of November and December are the best time of year to spot Yala’s leopard cubs.Leopard subspecies such as Panthera Pardus Kotiya, sloth bear, wild elephants, deer, crocodiles and numerous species of birds can be seen during this period. Yala can be reached after about 300km from Colombo along the southern coast or traveling through scenic beauty of Ratnapura and Monaragala districts (via Udawalawa).Accommodation is not difficult in and around Yala; reservation of park bungalows and camp sites can be done only through the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
World Spice Food Festival 2011
World Spice Food Festival 2011,Second segment of World Spice Food Festival will take place from 31st - 09th November 2011 with the participation of leading hoteliers in Colombo.Around 17 hotels and restaurants in Colombo will showcase variety of culinary displays on food items and country specials within the span of 10 days period starting from 31st October.
Participating Hotels: Hilton Colombo - Bavarian,Grand Orient Hotel -Italian,Galadari Hotel - Arabic, Mt. Lavinia Hotel - Latin -American, Hilton Residence - Chinese,Taj Samudra -South African,Cinnamon Grand - Pakistan, Cinnamon Lakeside - Singaporean,Ramada Colombo - Indian,Ceylon Continental - Malaysian,Galle Face Hotel - Indonesian, CasaColombo - Spanish, Mango Tree - Indian, Siam House - Thai,The Sizzle - Sizzling Foods,Jack Tree - Thai Raja Bojun - Sri Lankan
The organisers warmly welcome all general public and foreigners to be part of this exciting culinary experience.
National Exhibition and Trade Fair “Shilpa 2011″
National Exhibition and Trade Fair “Shilpa 2011″ held at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre on 27th October 2011.Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development participated as chief guest at the inauguration ceremony.
The exhibition demonstrates about 1500 products which were selected from provincial and district competitions. The Trade Fair includes about 200 stalls which would be given at concessionary rates to producers avoiding the meddle men to ensure direct income to producers.This has been organized for the seventh consecutive year with the aim of popularizing and promoting handicrafts and traditional industries.
Sri Lanka introduces online Visa system
The department of Immigration and Emigration launched a system called "Electronic Travel Authorization - ETA" in order to grant prior approval for visa via online for the foreign nationals who visit Sri lanka for short term requirements.
This new system will come into effect from January 01,2012 for all Countries to grant visas for short term requirements,to foreign nationals visiting the country who can pay the relevant fee and apply for the Electronic Travel Authorization via www.eta.gov.lk
Traveltalk October,2011
Tourism Day 2011
This years world Tourism day was celebrated under the theme of " Tourism linking Cultures" set by the Untied Nations Wolrd Tourism Organization.The main focus of this year's theme is to foster awareness among the international community of the value of tourism and it's cultural impact and to gain experience in understanding cultural diversity.
Travel talk October,2011
Bandaranaike International Airport,Take lounging to new heights
Escape the airport crowds and relax before your flight, enjoying the services and comforts of an exclusive airport lounge.
Arrive like Royalty to Sri lanka through "Silk Route" arrivals and we'll bid you farewell in style through "Silk Route"Depature. Whether you are a business or a leisure passenger travel yourself and enjoy the sanctuary of exclusive lounges in the transit area, Lotus Lounge Exclusively for 1st class travellers, Araliya Lounge for Business Class travellers and Executive Lounge for all .
AASL ANNOUNCES THE BIA DEPARTURE LOUNGE MILLION RUPEE SEASONAL PROMOTION
Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited together with 57 outlets at the Departure Lounge (Departure/ Transit Area) of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) announce the Departure Floor-wide mega seasonal promotion titled The BIA Christmas Shopping Festival.
VENUE:
Departure Lounge (Departure/ Transit Area)
DATE/ TIME:
15 November 2010 - 15 January 2011
Mohombi in Sri Lanka
The famous singer, Mohombi came down to Sri Lanka on 27th of September to perform at a concert on 30th September 2011 at CH & FC. He was warmly welcomed to the country with true Sri Lankan Hospitality and young fans followed him everywhere to get his autograph or to take a picture with him. Mohombi stayed at the Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo during his visit. This good looking singer visited his fans at 7 Degrees Restaurant at the same venue just before the concert as well since the Mohombi mania continued.
The RnB singer, song writer and dancer, Mohombi Nzasi Moupondo, famously known as Mohombi all around the world is a talented half Swedish- Congolese who grew up in Stockholm in Sweden, He has been a part of Swedish Hip hop group, Avalon with his brother from 2004 o 2008. But his fame came from his solo single ‘Bumpy Ride’ which was released on August 2010. It rose up the charts in a super speed in many European Countries making him one of the most admired artists in the world. Adding more to his success he released his first studio album, ‘Movement’ in February 2011.
Sri Lanka being a very small island compared to places they tour on, had 14,000 fans at the concert to listen to his greatest tunes, Bumpy Ride, Miss me, Coconut Tree and many others that came in his album this year. Iyaz another famous artist joined Mohombi to make this event more vibrant and colourful. Fans were delighted to see their favourite artists on stage.
This artist was brought to Sri Lanka by the local radio channel, Sun FM who brought down many other great international artists such as RIO and Edward Maya. Club Silk and Inside Management were also played a major role in organizing the whole event and making it a brilliant success.
YOUNG WILD ELEPHANTS TO BE CAPTURED FOR A LIFE IN CAPTIVITY?
Ask the Sri Lankan authorities not to undertake programme of capture and training for religious festivals.
On 8th August 2011, Sri Lankan Wildlife Minister, Mr S.M. Chandrasena told a press conference that during the upcoming survey of wild elephants, strong young calves would be identified for capture, to be "donated" to temples for use in festivals. "Sometime back there were more than 300 tamed elephants in the country” he said, “and the number has now dwindled to around 150 of which only a few are tuskers suitable forpageants."
Following this announcement at least 30 local conservation organisations have condemned the remarks. Conservationist Ajantha Palihawadana said such captures would interfere with nature by removing some of the best genetic stock from the elephant population, especially if elephants with tusks were being specifically selected as such individuals are relatively rare. Many are also very worried about the welfare of the elephants subjected to the trauma of capture and training, and spending the rest of their lives in captivity.
To be continued....http://www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/elephants/campaign-action/sri-lanka-elephants/captive-elelphant-welfare/wild-elephant-capture/