Life style
A passionate Naturalist’s Contribution to Responsible Wildlife Tourism
By. Rohan Wijesinha
The Government of Sri Lanka, faced with the present economic crisis, has identified tourism as being an essential source of foreign income into the country to help alleviate some of the its deficits. As tourists begin to visit the island again, in steadily increasing number, it must be remembered that many are attracted by Sri Lanka’s natural wonders, with over 50% of all visitors to the country going to one of the National Parks or sanctuaries.
Add to this number those who are attracted by its surrounding ocean and teeming marine life, as well as the wonders of its mountain vistas, waterfalls and forests, and it can be safely inferred that almost all tourists are enchanted by the biological variety and beauty this island has to offer.
The secret, however, is to ensure that these foreign guests are provided with a quality of service that will not only want them coming back again and again, but also to encourage their friends and relatives to do so as well. After all, there is no better advertising than that of word of mouth. For this, Sri Lanka must abandon the prevailing policy that quantity is all that matters. Instead, it should aim to attract the higher spending customer and ensure that the service given is on a par with the cost of the package.
Responsible Wildlife Tourism
Wildlife tourism can play a large part in the facilitation of this process; after all Nature has already done most of the hard work. However, it must be Responsible Wildlife Tourism and Dhilip de Alwis has long understood and practiced such ethical standards. A Naturalist and Resource Person, concentrating mainly in the Habarana area, an appreciative guest had this to say of him on Trip Advisor,
Dhilip is an exceptional naturalist…an encyclopedia of knowledge on wildlife. Great guide with extremely detailed and unforgettable walk arounds’’, treks or safaris. I was lucky to do all these with him and gain some of his knowledge of wildlife. It was Dhilip’s passion and enthusiasm that made me also love nature more.
Herein also lies an important message for Naturalists and Wildlife Guides, that of imparting knowledge to the visitor. This is especially so for the foreign guest who may never have witnessed wildlife in their natural surroundings before.
It is not just numbers that count but also an interpretation of the activities of the animal being observed. In fact, an hour spent watching a herd of elephants displaying the variety of behaviours they have, will be of far more worth to an observer who will leave not only with a magical memory and greater understanding of this majestic creature, but also an appreciation of the value a country places on its wildlife.
Not just the Big 5
Guides should not forget the smaller creatures either. Many guests will be enchanted by them, if described to them with enthusiasm and knowledge. It is not just the elephant, leopard and bear that should be sought, but mongoose, deer, Sambhur, monitor lizards, jackals, reptiles, amphibians, and so many more who can be creatures of such wonder, if their actions are understood and explained. Then there are the birds, over 450 species of them. Dhilip de Alwis specializes in ornithology and likes nothing better than to share of his avian knowledge with his guests. Once again, as per Trip Advisor,
Dhilip, the resident naturalist, has a keen sense of observation and has acquired a vast knowledge of local birds in the area and Sri Lanka. He took me out for a morning trip that revealed scores of birds (55 in total during that morning walk alone). Subsequently we went for other birds …
Another way to quench the thirst
that brought the total in the area to 80 species, several of which are Sri Lankan endemics – wood shrike, grey hornbill, brown-capped babbler, etc. A lot of information was freely shared about identification tips, known places for specific endemics elsewhere in Sri Lanka etc. In the end, the one thing that sets him apart from other guides is his ability to ‘tune’ into the needs of the birder/group he is accompanying.
Give them space
In this age of sophisticated cameras and powerful zoom lenses, it is no longer necessary to have to go right up to an animal to see its magnificence in full. In fact, such close approaches result in an animal reacting to human presence rather than displaying its natural behaviour that should be the real focus of attention. An outstanding photographer in his own right, de Alwis has this to write on his BlogSpot,
Each and everyone have their own style of capturing wildlife photos. I have my own. I always try to put more distance in the picture to have more breathing space to have something more constructive. I always make sure to put more importance on the environment or play of light…I would like to take a picture of a common bird in a beautiful environment rather than a close up of a very rare bird. It is my passion.
As his BlogSpot reveals, de Alwis also conducts tours to archaeological sites, with as dedicated a commitment to the preservation of the wonderful cultural heritage of Sri Lanka as he does for wildlife and the environment. He also specializes in motorbike tours especially to those places off the beaten track”.’
It is about passion
Ultimately, it is about passion, commitment and an understanding of the true wonders of Nature. In his words, de Alwis writes,
There are moments (of) serenity, when you are just waiting…you are completely disconnected with the rest of the World. You only pay attention to…Mother Nature. Some people see Nature as…separate…from their lives. What they do not realize is that they are also a part of Mother Nature.”
Ultimately, de Alwis’s greatest tribute comes from one of his foreign guests which encapsulates all of the above in a few simple sentences,
We (family with two kids) visited Sri Lanka…and had a great time with Dhilip at a bird watching & walking tour. He knows everything about every bird…He is a great, talented guide and very enjoyable to spend time with him. Will definitely recommend him to all visiting Sri Lanka and are nature lovers.
Wish to come back soon to this paradise on earth.
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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