Sri Lanka Twins Organisation to take the lead in global destination

by Zanita Careem

The world’s first-ever beauty pageant for twins will be held in Sri Lanka this year, as part of the Global Twins Festival organised by Sri Lanka Twins Founders Upuli and Chamali Gamage. The organisers hope to attract 4,000 twin and non-twin participants. The event has got the approval of the Tourism Ministry and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

Recently , a press conference was held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute to provide more information on the festival. The Islamic Republic of Iran Cultural Head Bahman Moazami was Chief Guest, while Tourism Ministry Secretary Chulananda Perera was Guest of Honour. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu and other invitees were also present at the event.

Sri Lanka Twins Founder Upuli Gamage said 30 countries have confirmed their participation in the pageant. The final selection round for the local contestant for Miss and Mr. Twin will take place on May 28, the festival will be held under the theme “Green globe for pure breath” from 24-31 July. In addition to the pageant, there will be a cultural festival, a business forum, and a music festival.

The founder Upul Gamage said Sri Lanka Twins was founded in 1993, and is the first and only organisation for twins in Sri Lanka, Upuli and Chamali were made Vice Presidents of the Global Twins and Multiple Birth Forum.

Sri Lanka, having experienced a lull in tourism, was facing a setback. The economy was facing a setback, we need to to boost the image of Sri lanka in many ways than one,. This pageant will definetely put Sri Lanka on the international map said Gamage. He also said in addition to this, Sri Lanka doesn’t offer tourists many attractions like in other countries to boost the image of the country, India, for instance, attracts tourists annually for pilgrimages he pointed out.

Gamage felt that despite tourist destinations being promoted,there we dont promote enough for returning visitors. “We wanted to give tourists a reason to visit the country with so many events and attractions. This Global Twins Festival in Sri Lanka will attract many tourists and vistors .

Global Twins Festival

“Globally, there are many pageants, but this is the first time a twins’ beauty pageant is being held in the world, not just Sri Lanka,” Gamage said.

On July 25, the festival will begin with the Global Twins Cultural Festival at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. The objectives of the segment are to promote co-existence between different cultures around the globe and appreciation of others, overcome ethnic barriers, and unite globally. According to Gamage, countries like India, Australia, and Nepal will showcase their cultural acts, bringing the traditions of Asia, Africa, and Europe onto one stage.

Twins pageant

On july 26 the Global Twins Pageant will take place at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, and the organisers hope this event will help Sri Lanka to gain global recognition for initiating this concept as a world’s first, and will also attempt to break official world records. This is the highlight of the Global Twins Festival and is expected to steal the global spotlight of Sri Lanka

The Global Twins Pageant is the brainchild of Upai and Chamali . Many countries will paticipate in this event and more than hirty countries have confirmed their participation thus far This will ensure global coverage of the pageant, which would help promote Sri Lanka, even if our contestants aren’t crowned winners that night.

In terms of the local contestants, Gamage said the three Sri Lankan contestants will be chosen on 28 May. “Sri Lanka Twins has a membership of 28,000, and our members as well as non-members have been given the opportunity to apply since our press conference last week. We already have applicants, but have not yet begun the training process, which will commence on 22 February,” she said. Bellesza Models Director Shanith Fernando will be carrying out the training for the local contestants.Forums

The Global Twins Festival will also include two forums in Kandy – the Global Twins and Multiples Birth Forum on 27 July and the Global Twins Business Forum the following day.

Through the event on 27 July, the organisers hope to find the right solutions for educational, economic, social, sports, and health-related problems twins and multiples face across the globe, while with the business forum, they hope to build vital import and export relationships between participating and visiting countries in order to help make Sri Lanka an international hub for economic relations.

“We hope that within a three-year period, we will be able to hold the world’s biggest trade festival in Sri Lanka,” Gamage added.

Tourism and entertainment

Towards the end of the festival, participants will have the opportunity to visit various tourist destinations in the country; This includes Sri Pada, for instance, and Gamage shared that she feels tour agents tend to take tourists to places that are easy to travel to, like the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, despite foreigners liking hiking and more adventurous travel as well.

On the final day of the festival, 30 July, the Global Twins Music Festival will be held in Colombo. Twins from various countries will take the stage to showcase their talents at this event.