Sri Lanka Calling : Volume 1, No.49

From a single candle lit simple home made lantern, to the mammoth creations involving many days and months of hard work and intricate handcrafting, Sri Lanka will light up in devotion in celebrating Wesak, the festival of lights.

While illuminations play their part in commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama the Buddha, religious activities at places of worship will take place simultaneously. Giving of alms will be a dominant feature as will be meditation and singing of praise of the Budda in Bakthi Gee.

Sri Lanka Tourisms Wesak activities will feature the southern coastal towns of Bentota and Beruwela. Whole communities whose livelihoods are dependant on the tourism industry, are currently engaged in, creating works of art lanterns, wesak pandols and other decorations to light up the villages. A special feature will be the decorated and illuminated barges floating on the Bentota river; which will also be the stage for the choristers singing the soothing songs of worship Bakthee Gee . Visitors to Bentota and Beruwela this year on the 19th and 20th of May, will take back with them an experience of one of Sri Lankas most treasured festivals; a memory to be cherished.

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PATA CEO Challenge 2008 on Confronting Climate Change, saw Sri Lanka Tourisms Earth Lung initiative to work towards being carbon clean within a ten year framework being lauded by travel and tourism industry leaders, as an industry first.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka were the only destinations featured among the eleven panellists of the rapid-fire session on boardroom challenges. Ed Fuller, President and Managing Director of Marriot International when asked by the moderator, CNN Internationals Kristie Lou Stout "Now that you know what Sri Lanka is doing with its Earth Lung Programme, will you invest in a hotel in Sri Lanka." The response from Fuller was "I was there one and half weeks ago, and we certainly are considering the possibility." He added In Europe, consumers say: we will not buy your hotel unless you have an environmental programme we can see

For further details visit

PATA CEO Challenge Website
PATA CEO Challenge Blog
Sri Lanka first carbon-neutral destination in the world? (www.tipsfromthetlist.com)

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The Sri Lanka Institute of National Tour Guide Lecturers, a four decades old association, which gives leadership and guidance to Tour Guides, embarked on a futuristic venture last week.

In laying the foundation stone for a building to meet the needs of training facilities for those wanting to take to a career in this particular field of tourism, the association reaffirmed their commitment to giving a professional service to visitors to our beautiful country.

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