Life style
Vibrant hub of tourism
Sun Siyam Pasikudah, a tropical oasis on the Eastern coast of Sri Lanka and recently reopened after an extensive renovation in November 2023, held a celebration marking the country’s 76th Independence Day on February 4th, 2024. This momentous occasion marks the dawn of a new era for the Eastern region, flourishing as a vibrant hub of tourism, with Sun Siyam Pasikudah at the forefront of offering an unparalleled hospitality experience to its guests.
Sun Siyam Pasikudah invited in-house guests to hoist the Sri Lankan national flag and the hotel’s flag while they honored the national anthem that was played in the background. The guests and the team then joined in for a tea party where they enjoyed some in-house delicacies while socializing with the other guests.
Since its closure and extensive transformation, Sun Siyam Pasikudah officially reopened its doors on November 17, 2023, after collaborating with Studio Sixty7 to reimagine the entire property. The result is a breathtaking retreat that seamlessly combines affordable luxury with the cultural richness of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka recorded over 1.48 million tourists in 2023, and in the month of January this year along, the beautiful island welcomed over 200,000 tourists according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). The Eastern region plays a pivotal role in this, offering guests an undiscovered side of Sri Lanka, with pristine beaches, diverse food, temples, wildlife and culture of its own.
Arshed Refai, General Manager at Sun Siyam Pasikudah, expressed his enthusiasm said “As we celebrate the 76th Independence Day of Sri Lanka, Sun Siyam Pasikudah stands as a symbol of the region’s resilience and commitment to both our guests and our community. We’re not just offering an extraordinary experience to our guests; we’re empowering the local residents by providing job opportunities and fostering economic growth. It’s an exciting time to be part of Sri Lanka’s tourism rebound, and we’re thrilled to do so while contributing to the nation’s social and economic well-being.”
Sun Siyam Pasikudah offers 34 spacious and contemporary one-to-two-bedroom pavilions, providing an exclusive coastal experience for couples, families, or groups of friends. The resort’s transformation showcases bold monochromatic interiors balanced with rich golden tones, creating a unique, sophisticated, and chic environment.
The resort offers distinct culinary adventures, immersing guests in Sri Lanka’s vibrant flavours and colonial traditions. The noteworthy options include The cellar, Sri Lanka’s largest wine cellar on the eastern coast, the tea house with an extensive tea collection for a delightful tasting journey, Slice and Grill, a fast-casual poolside concept with a retro design, and the beach shack, a tropical paradise with Caribbean vibes.
Sun Siyam Pasikudah invites guests to explore Sri Lanka’s wonders, from the pristine Pasikudah coast’s underwater marvels to exciting activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, jet-skiing, kayaking, and tube rides across the bay. In addition, the resort offers seamless meeting and event facilities, and also provides the perfect setting for intimate beach weddings, with traditional ceremonies and luxurious receptions.
As the nation celebrates its 76th Independence Day, Sun Siyam Pasikudah extends a warm invitation to travelers to embark on a remarkable journey, promising an adventure, a cultural immersion, and a sanctuary of serenity. Take advantage of the ongoing local market offer of 30 percent for NDB credit and debit card holders. Visit www.sunsiyam.com/sun-siyam-pasikudah/ or call 065 2055 555 or 0702424263 for reservations.
Institute of Hospitality Sri Lanka
The 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the UK-based Institute of Hospitality’s Sri Lanka Chapter was held recently at the Ramada Hotel Colombo,.The event provided an evening of camaraderie , reflection of the past and present achievements,setting new benchmarks for the future
The AGM had the presence of two distinguished guests, the Chief Guest Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and the Guest of Honour British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick. Their inspiring speeches were lauded by all hoteliers who were present at the occasion
A special thanks was extended to Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality UK, along with his team, sponsors, committee members, and all attendees for making the event memorable.
Dr. Harsha Jayasingh, Past President of the Institute of Hospitality (UK) Sri Lanka Chapter, emphasised the Institute’s longstanding history and the strength of its Sri Lankan branch. “The Institute of Hospitality (IH) UK has a history of 86 years, and we are proud to be the Sri Lanka Branch. IH Sri Lanka is much stronger now with many members from all areas of the hospitality industry,” he stated.
Dr. Jayasingh highlighted the significant role of tourism in Sri Lanka’s economy,. He said tourism it is the third-largest source of revenue for the country. “Tourism accounts for about 13.3% of total foreign exchange earnings and employs 450,000 people directly and indirectly. The hospitality industry in this island of pearl holds tremendous potential for economic growth, job creations, and cultural exchange,” he added.
He also pointed out more women should be attracted to the industry and advocated for the use of technology in hospitality sector to attract the younger generation.
The newly appointed Chairman Ramesh Dassanayake spoke about the challenges faced by the industry, including the reluctance of youth to join the sector. . Dassanayake expressed concerns over the migration of staff between hotels and the overall ‘brain drain’ in the sector. ” We must maintain high standards in the hotel We must try to attract tourists to Sri Lanka, we must have with many facilities Hence, hotel schools and other professional institutions involved in skills development mustincrease their intakes,” he pointed out.
Chief Guest Sajith Premadasa emphasised the importance of eco tourism and said “We need to have an environmental policy related to tourism in place,” . .
The 32nd AGM of the Institute of Hospitality UK, Sri Lanka Chapter, was a testament to the strength and potential of Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry. The insights and commitments shared during the event set a new benchmark for the future.(ZC)
Pix by Thushara Attapathu
Life style
He recognizes human identity beyond boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
Visit of Sri Gurudev to Sri Lanka
Humanitarian, spiritual leader and Global Ambassador of Peace Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Sri Gurudev) was in Sri Lanka on a three day tour on the invitation of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunewardene. Gurudev who inspired a wave of volunteerism and service to moot one of the largest volunteer-based organisations in the world – The Art of Living – visited the various projects under the aegis of the foundation and launched twelve vocational and technical centers around the island. He was accompanied by thousands of followers from Sri Lanka and around the world.
Gurudev who visited Sri Lanka for the sixth time also had a first day cover launched in honour of his visit. He is a strong proponent of spreading happiness, using the unique Sudarshan Kriya, yoga, meditation and practical wisdom to unite people, empower individuals and transform communities. His programmes provide techniques and tools to live a deeper, more joyous life, while his non-profit organisations recognize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
The Art of Living which has more than 30,000 teachers and over one million volunteers across 180 countries has touched in excess of five hundred million people around the world. CNN called it “Life Changing” and The Washington Post headlined it, “Fresh air to millions”.
In Trincomalee, Gurudev met with war victims and had a heartwarming engagement with the children from the children’s homes run by the Foundation. He also visited the Koneswara Temple in Trincomalee and graced the Kumbhabhishekam at Seetha ecogPnize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion. Amman temple at Nuwara Eliya. He held discussions with the trustees on the progress of the foundation’s social service projects, while also holding a special event – Ekamuthuwa – attended by a large number of dignitaries and his devotees from around the world.
His time with the Prime Minister was spent discussing the prospects of unity in diversity and uniting Sri Lanka by adding happiness into the formula of living. In addition he had discussions with the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, prominent business stewards and civil society leaders.
by Zanita Careem
Envison your dream wedding day come to life at the Epitome Hotel, a prestigious city hotel in Kurunegala offering an unrivalled luxury rendors experience for weddings.
The venue is designed to embody opulence and luxury from all quarters for a spectacular wedding in kurunegala,Thier ballroom is the largest banquet facility in Sri Lanka It can be divided into six luxurious pillarless wedding halls on the ground floor and 25pax smaller banquet halls.
It can be easily named as a five star heaven in the heart of the city contributing to a myriad of immense experiences tailored to inspire and delight wedding experiences.
From opulent décor set up to exquisite table decor, lavish food, every detail is meticulously curated to spark your imagination and ignite creativity for a perfect wedding. The previous prestigious wedding shows season one and season two attracted large crowds
were unique events which gave the wedding vendors and potential clients had an opportunity to connect and interact with each other. Beyond being a showcase it was a chance for the wedding vendors to unite and contribute to the vibrancy of the wedding industry. The wedding show covered all area of the bridal industry providing a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became the most popular bridal exhibitions in Kurunegala.This bridal exhibitions allowed brides and grooms to experience first hand the products and services available from suppliers in Sri Lanka
These wedding shows held at The Epitome created a benchmark and gave an opportunity for vendors to create connections to the utmost satisfaction said Harshan Lakshita Executive Director. of the magnificent Hotel
Our wedding shows featured experts and professionals in every field‘ It covered all areas of the bridal industry provided a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became most popular bridal exhibition in this region.We are always open to everyone to join us at our wedding shows in the future. It is an opportunity to discover the incredible talent within our local wedding and bridal vendors to make meaningful relationships and plan thier special day at our breathtaking hotel The Epitome said General Manager Kavinda Caldera
The Epitome Hotel’s bridal show which will be held end of June will buzz with great ideas,advice and inspiration for all those who plan thier dream wedding
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The Hotel Epitome’s Wedding Season 3 will marked excellence, celebration and inspiration for those in the wedding industry. The exhibition halls will resonate with ideas on exquisite bridal wear to decor, florists , photography etc and showshowcase the rich tapestry of talent within the local wedding industry. .
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