Life style
Enchanting East as a year-round destination
Jetwing Hotels and Thema Collection, two of Sri Lanka’s leading homegrown hospitality brands, recently hosted an event titled “The Enchanting East: a year-round Sri Lankan experience” to break the misconception of the Eastern region being a mere seasonal destination. The event was patronized by leading travel agents, travel influencers, travel enthusiasts and media representatives.
Proprietor of Kottukal Beach House by Jetwing and a Non-executive Director of Jetwing Symphony PLC, Len Porter highlighted the year-round appeal of Sri Lanka’s East, going beyond the traditional surfing months of April to September. He emphasized the region’s rich cultural and historical heritage, mentioning lesser-known gems like Kudumbigala Viharaya and Magul Maha Viharaya. Porter also discussed the diverse weather patterns in the East and proposed a range of activities to fill-in a travel itinerary.
From October through March, the area becomes a haven for migratory birds escaping harsh Northern hemisphere winters, with places like Kumana National Park serving as their refuge. Furthermore, Gal Oya, Kumana, and Lahugala national parks offer peaceful sanctuaries for Sri Lanka’s ‘big three’ – elephants, leopards, and sloth bears, making them an excellent alternative to the busier Yala National Park for wildlife enthusiasts.
Buduruwagala Rajamaha Viharaya – Wellawaya
Director of Marketing and Development at Jetwing Hotels Hashan Cooray, detailed the company’s unique properties dotted towards the Eastern corner of the island: Jetwing Kaduruketha located in Wellawaya, Jetwing Surf and Kottukal Beach House by Jetwing both located in Pottuvil. Modeled after a traditional Sri Lankan village, Jetwing Kaduruketha offers guests a rustic village experience combined with modern luxuries.
It is known for its personalized service, locally sourced cuisine and various excursions, making it an ideal base for waterfall expeditions and exploring historical sites. Guests can also engage in activities such as learning about Sri Lanka’s agricultural traditions at the property’s own paddy fields and taking a dip in the Kirindi Oya, which borders the property. Jetwing Surf redefines eco-luxury tourism with its distinctive and award-winning architecture, while Kottukal Beach House by Jetwing, is a luxurious villa, nestled on a secluded bay and surrounded by the ocean on two sides. Both properties offer easy access to prime surfing spots and a plethora of wildlife, nature, and cultural experiences, along with a myriad of other activities that can be experienced in the region.
Director of Marketing and Business Development at Thema Collection, Maxime Wickramasinghe shared the brand’s commitment to creating thematic experiences tailored to each property’s location. Wild Glamping Gal Oya, located in Rathugala, a scenic village surrounded by mountains and inhabited by the Veddas, the indigenous people of Sri Lanka, offers an exceptional glamping adventure, allowing nature enthusiasts to immerse themselves and learn about coexistence with nature from the Veddas.
Maalu Maalu Resort and Spa, inspired by Sri Lankan ‘wadiya’ fishing villages, is located on the tranquil Pasikuda waters. Maalu Maalu offers a wide range of activities suitable for guests of all ages, from snorkeling adventures among vibrant coral reefs to exploring the historic and culturally rich city of Batticaloa. Wickramasinghe also presented interesting statistics comparing rainfall in the Eastern and Southern regions, indicating that the East, for most months of the year – including the misconceived “off-season” months, receives significantly less rainfall than the South. This information is valuable for travellers planning their visits and seeking more favorable weather conditions.
Following their presentations, a panel discussion was conducted with the participation of Chairman of Jetwing Symphony PLC, Hiran Cooray and Chandra Wickramasinghe, Founder and Chairman of Thema Collection and Connaisance de Ceylan. The audience posed thought-provoking questions to the panel on biodiversity conservation, and ways in which connectivity to the east can be improved. The engaging panel discussion offered profound insights and ignited stimulating conversations, highlighting the importance of partnerships and collaborative efforts in this endeavor and the need to protect the region from overdevelopment and exploitation.
Hashan Cooray said explore and experience the captivating allure of the eastern region. From the majestic mountains to the pristine, unspoiled beaches, this region caters to discerning explorers with a rich tapestry of experiences throughout the year. Travellers are able to peacefully observe birds and other wildlife, delve into the lifestyles of paddy-farmers and Sri Lanka’s indigenous communities, enjoy the serene shores of Pasikuda and the exhilarating waves of Pottuvil and its abundant surf points”. Whether travellers seek to reconnect with nature or immerse in the vibrant culture and history of Sri Lanka, Jetwing Hotels and Thema Collection properties in the East offer unparalleled opportunities for unforgettable and transformative journeys said Hashan Cooray.
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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