Life style
Taste of Turkiye in Sri Lanka
Turkiye food festival was unveiled at Courtyard by Mariott Hotel Colombo, recently in collaboration with the Embassy of Turkiye in Colombo and Turkish Airlines.This event was aimed to showcase the Turkiye ‘s rich and diverse cuisine to Sri Lanka.
This festival transported the diners to the land of Turkiye in all its magnificance.The event saw a ecclectic crowd of many dignitaries, ambassadors from Malaysia, Pakistan,members of parliament and other distinguished invitees who were present to experience this culinary journey ,
The two guest chefs Volkan Gur and Eren Barishan who were specially flown down used premium quality ingredients and delicacies, giving the diners an extraordinary experience of Turkish food,to compliment the moulhwatering dishes, a variety of Turkish desserts such as Backlova, walnut pudding and more were delightfully presented.
The General Manager of the Colombo Mariott Elton Hurtis said “We are thrilled to be able to bring international flavours from Turkiye and partner with the Embassy of Turkiye . Turkish Airlines and Mariott Bonvoy hotel in Turkiye.
Message of love and peace by Dervishes from Turkiye
The highlight of the evening was the speech made by the Ambassador of Turkiye Demet Sekercioglu. Excerpt
“At the opening speech she said. Tonight we celebrate one of the most vibrant elements of our cultural heritage: the Turkish cuisine.As a cuisine that has engaged with numerous civilizations throughout its centuries-old aculinary journey, the doors of Turkish cuisine open to the experiences of different religions, cultures and ethnicities living together.
I believe this unique feature of diversity makes Turkish Cuisine loved by food connoisseurs not only in Turkiye but also around the world.Turkiye boasts a rich gastronomic culture, with her culinary practices seamlessly reflecting her humanity, tolerance and aspiration for peace.
In today’s world where technology and urbanization foster disconnection and isolation, you can be sure that you will find a unique warmth and welcome at every door you knock on, in Anatolia.Our unmatched hospitality is demonstrated by the place we reserve to our guests on our table. We consider them as the Guest of God and cherish them as such.
Turkish culinary culture has also wonderful traditions in further fostering family and friendship bonds. We expect our family elders and guests to take the first bite. We even make sure they sit, right in the centre where they can be the heart of our gathering.In short, our meal times are a beautiful display of our love, generosity, solidarity and the joy of sharing life’s best moments.
Another remarkable aspect of our culinary tradition are the centuries-old recipes that heal both body and soul. The nutriments, herbs and spices grown in the rich Anatolian lands have been used not only for the treatment of diseases but also for their prevention, recipes have been formulated together with physicians.
But the magic of our cuisine doesn’t stop there. In a world grappling with the pressing issue of food insecurity, Turkish culinary tradition stands also as a solution to this global challenge. In fact, in Turkish cuisine almost every part of a product is used in the preparation of various dishes.In this respect, the principles of Turkish cuisine are in line with the basic philosophy of zero waste and are also valuable in terms of protecting the resources of our planet and healing the soul
Before concluding my remarks, she said .The event is so special because we are celebrating the five milestones this year the 75th anniversary of the independence of Sri Lanka,
the Centenary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkiye,the 75th anniversary of the recognition of the independence of Sri Lanka by Turkiye.
– the 10th anniversary of the establishment of our Embassy in Colombo,
-and finally the 10th anniversary of the launch of T urkish Air- lines flights between Istanbul and Colombo.
The magnificient evenings culminated with a ‘Sufi dance with two whirling devishes who ttravelled from Turkiye for this special occasion to convey through their performances,the message of peace and love. Pix by Thushara Attapatu
Managing Director of Abans, Aban Prestonje
General Manager of Mariott Hotel, Elton Hurtis
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. .
