Sri Lanka: 2012

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Sri Lanka with Luxury & Style (13 Days): Sample Itinerary Outline

► Sample Itinerary "As Is" or use it "Just for Ideas" *

DAY 1: Arrive Colombo, SRI LANKA
You are met on arrival at the airport, and taken to your hotel in Colombo, a city that is a mix of Colonial and modern styles. Galle Face Hotel, Colombo

DAY 2: Colombo, SRI LANKA
Your full day of sightseeing starts with a tour through the Dutch Fort and Pettah sections of the city. Visit St. Anthony’s Dutch era church with its collection of 19th century artifacts, and see the Colombo Fort railway station built in 1880. Visit the Hindu Kovil, a temple with exquisite interior stonework, and the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple. See the Town Hall, with its replica of the White House, and the prestigious Cinnamon Gardens area. In the afternoon visit “Jana Kala Kendraya,” a handicrafts village, and then drive to Mount Lavinia Hotel for a view of the Indian Ocean at sunset. Galle Face Hotel, Colombo(B)

DAY 3: Colombo to Sigiriya, SRI LANKA
This morning drive north into the island’s interior plains to the city of Sigiriya. In the afternoon explore the grand Sigiriya Rock Fortress, built by King Kassapa in the 5th century, located 500-feet above a vast expanse of rainforest. Drive to the base, then climb the stairs carved between two boulders (“Lion’s Gate,”) to explore this royal citadel. Explore the gardens, water gardens, and the “Heavenly maidens” of Sigiriya frescoes. Climb further up carved staircases through the “Lions Paws” to the summit of the rock to see the foundations of the Grand Palace, the king’s throne and windmill-fed swimming pool. Vil Uyaa, Sigiriya (B)

DAY 4: Polonnaruwa & Minneriya National Park, SRI LANKA
This morning drive to the ancient medieval city of Polonnaruwa. The country’s capital from the 11th to 13th centuries, it is full of beautiful palaces, temples and shrines. Visit the ruins of the Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu I, originally a massive 7-story wood and stone structure, and the adjacent Audience Hall and Kumara Pokuna, the royal bathing pool. In the Quadrangle complex, explore the Vatadage relic house and its Praying Buddhist monks dogoba (shrine); Thuparama, an example of the gedige style of temple architecture; and the Hetadage relic house. Visit Lankathillaka Gedige, a massive temple ruin with a headless colossal Buddha statue, and Gal Vihara, also known as the “Cave of the Spirits of Knowledge” as it has three huge Buddha statues carved out of its granite cliff face. This afternoon take a scenic Jeep safari through Minneriya National Park, an area of wonderfully diverse nature - tropical and evergreen forests, grasslands, wetlands and bamboo shrubs. The 22,000-acre park hosts 24 species of mammals, including wild elephants, Samburs, Sloths and the purple faced Langur. Vil Uyaa, Sigiriya (B)

DAY 5: Sigiriya to Kandy, SRI LANKA
This morning drive to Kandy, the former Hill Capital of Sri Lanka, en route visiting a spice garden and the Aluvihare Buddhist Temple, where the Buddhist cannons are written on Ola leaves. This afternoon drive along the upper lake road for a panoramic view of the city and it massive lake. Next visit a gem museum and witness a colorful cultural performance. Explore the Temple of the Tooth, to observe a pooja ceremony and see Sri Lanka's most valuable Buddhist relic, a tooth of Lord Buddha. Hotel Earl’s Regency, Kandy (B)

DAY 6: Kandy, SRI LANKA
This morning explore the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, a 140-acre early 19th century garden. It has 4000 species of flora, including incredible orchids, aromatic spices and medicinal herbs. Next visit the Kandy Arts & Crafts Showroom and a local batik factory. Hotel Earl’s Regency, Kandy (B)

DAY 7: Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, SRI LANKA
This morning depart for Pinnawela and a visit to the endearing Elephant Orphanage where you can observe these magnificent creatres in their natural habitat. Continue your drive south to colonial Nuwara Eliya. Visit a tea factory and a tea estate to learn about this valuable and famous export, arriving at your hotel by mid afternoon. Tea Factory Hotel, Nuwara Eliya (B)

DAY 8: Nuwara Eliya to Yala, SRI LANKA
This morning tour Nuwara Eliya, also called “Little England,” because of the large English settlement. Visit the town market place and admire scenic views of Lake Gregory and Mt. Piduratalagla, Sri Lanka’s highest peak. Depart for an afternoon drive to Yala, en route visiting Ravana Ella Waterfalls and the Buduruwagala Buddha statue, the tallest upright statues of Buddha in the country. Yala Village Hotel, Yala (B)

DAY 9: Yala National Park, SRI LANKA
Today enjoy both morning and afternoon jeep excursions into Yala National Park, the biggest National Park in Sri Lanka. The park is renowned for its variety of wildlife, including elephants, sloth bear, water buffalo, toque monkey, mongoose and the leopards – there are about 35 in the park. There are also a large variety of water birds and Raptors. Yala Village Hotel, Yala (B)

DAY 10: Yala to Bentota, SRI LANKA
Today’s full day drive starts with a visit to the fishing village of Ussangoda. Next drive to the Galle Fort, built by the Dutch in the 17th century, and today a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tour the fort and Galle’s National and Maritime museums. Next tour a mask factory in Ambalangoda, before reaching Balapitiya, where you take a boat ride on the Madhu River; to see the many prawn traps along the banks. Continue to Kosgoda to visit a Turtle hatchery to see the hundreds of baby turtles that will later be released to their naturl habitat in the sea. Arrive at your resort hotel late afternoon. Taj Exotica, Bentota (B)
DAY 11: Bentota Resort, SRI LANKA
Today enjoy a full day to relax and enjoy the facilities at your deluxe beach resort. Taj Exotica, Bentota (B)

DAY 12: Bentota to Seeduwa, SRI LANKA
After a morning at leisure drive to Seeduwa, near the international airport. Airport Garden Hotel, Seeduwa (B)

DAY 13: Seeduwa, SRI LANKA
Depart for home. Today you are taken to the airport for your flight home or on to your next destination. (B)

Tuesday 24 April 2012

SRI LANKAN POLITICAL SITUATION STABILIZED DUE TO RAJAPAKSA’S LEADERSHIP - LEE

During summit held by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Seoul, Lee said Sri Lanka’s economy has grown steadily and its political situation stabilized due to Rajapaksa’s leadership.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa held a summit in Seoul Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen economic and other cooperation between the two countries.

Rajapaksa arrived in Seoul Monday for a four-day state visit.

During Tuesday’s summit, Lee said Sri Lanka’s economy has grown steadily and its political situation stabilized due to Rajapaksa’s leadership. Lee also thanked Sri Lanka for sending a pair of elephants two years ago as a token of friendship between the two countries.

“In particular, more than 20,000 Sri Lankan workers are contributing to the economy of South Korea and they are beloved by South Korean businessmen,” Lee said during the summit, referring to migrant workers from the South Asian nation.

Lee said the two countries agreed to expand the Sri Lankan workforce in South Korea.

Further details of the agreement were not immediately available.

Rajapaksa’s trip to Seoul also includes a forum with business leaders of the two countries and a meeting with leading South Korean trade organizations.

South Korea and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations in 1977.

Meanwhile South Korea announced that it will provide Sri Lanka with US$200 million in development loans that can be used for future infrastructure building by the South Asian country, the South Korean finance ministry said Tuesday.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the money to come from South Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) will be used in various agricultural and public work projects as well as education and health-related programs, it said.

“The agreement is important because it raises transparency on the amount of money that will be offered, making it easier for Colombo to set up its national development plans,” the ministry said.

The EDCF can make it possible for local companies to take part in the ongoing 10-year national infrastructure building plan that runs through 2016, it said.

The loans can also strengthen bilateral economic ties with the country that buys South Korean cars, knitted goods and synthetic rubber. Two-way trade between the two countries reached $426 million last year, with South Korea posting a $262 million surplus.

In the past, Seoul provided development loans to 22 projects worth $460 million, making Sri Lanka the fourth-largest beneficiary of official overseas assistance, Yonhap reports.

Sunday 22 April 2012

Sri Lankan government to restructure country's overseas missions

Apr 05, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government says it plans to restructure the country's overseas missions to reflect the changing ground situation in the world.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has told parliament Wednesday that the overseas missions would be restructured in order to use minimum resources to open new Sri Lankan missions in several countries.

He has said the country would open new missions in several countries including Nigeria, Mauritania, Mauritius and Seychelles and upgrade the Consulate office in Turkey to a mission.

The Minister has explained that the new missions would help Sri Lanka get the maximum advantage in bi-lateral relations.

According to Peiris, Sri Lanka is also looking at increasing diplomatic ties with the former Soviet states known as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) including Azerbaijan.

The Minister has pointed out that the importance of Sri Lankan missions in some countries has declined and it is time to change the archaic system that is currently in place.

The government recently said that it has decided to shut down several diplomatic missions in Europe while establishing several new missions in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Sri Lankan missions in Poland, Netherlands, Austria Norway and Sweden are to be closed and one mission is to be established to oversee affairs in these countries, the government said.

Sri Lanka ideal Shipbuilding Hub - Seychelles FM

Seychelles Foreign Minister Jean-Paul Adam who was on a two day visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris said Seychelles President James Alix Mitchel has the vision to promote Sri Lanka as the Shipbuilding Hub and build strong links with Sri Lanka.

Seychelles Foreign Minister Jean-Paul Adam

The Seychelles Foreign Minister said so when he called on Prof Peiris at the External Affairs Ministry for bilateral discussions on Thursday. Minister Prof Peiris said he was pleased to receive the minister from the friendly island nation of Seychelles.

He noted that it was the first visit of the Foreign Minister of Seychelles.

Minister Peiris noted that as both countries share common geo - political interests, Sri Lanka could exchange with Seychelles its experience and expert knowledge, particularly in the fields of fisheries, maritime security, shipbuilding and tourism. He also identified the education, health, mini-hydro power and hospitality sectors as areas for further cooperation.

Both ministers emphasized the necessity of establishing direct air links between the two countries as the way to enhance tourism and trade.

The Seychelles Foreign Minister thanked the External Affairs Minister for inviting him to visit Sri Lanka and giving him an opportunity to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the areas of trade, economy and tourism.

He said their President James Alix Mitchel wants to promote Sri Lanka as the shipbuilding hub and strengthen the strong ties with Sri Lanka. The Seychelles minister said the government of Seychelles is very keen to have closer cooperation between smaller nations in the Indian Ocean so that it would be beneficial to the people of the countries in the region. Both ministers noted that countries have been affected by piracy and stressed the importance for both countries to work together to fight against piracy to protect sea transportation in the region.

He said that although Seychelles has a small population of 90,000, they receive over 250,000 tourists annually and are interested in obtaining the services of Sri Lankan companies in the health sector and hospitality trade as well.

Minister Peiris said that Sri Lanka will extend support to the government and the People of Seychelles. The minister also met representatives of private sector companies to promote trade between the two countries.

The Seychelles minister said that one purpose of his visit was to do the ground work for the forthcoming visit of President James Alix Mitchel,who has already accepted the invitation extended by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to visit Sri Lanka later in the year.

He also said that Seychelles has already established trade links with the Sri Lankan companies and that he is looking forward to more private sector involvement for Sri Lankan companies to enhance trade with Seychelles.

He also stated that the government of Seychelles would be the client to Sri Lankan companies that are interested in investing in the health sector, particularly in the construction of hospitals and development of health services, including supply of medical officers.

Minister Jean-Paul Adam further said as the cost of production is fairly high in Seychelles they look forward to importing many of their required products from Sri Lanka as Sri Lankan products are of superior quality.He also said that they have identified Sri Lanka as their major supplier of commodities and vessels. The visiting minister stated that their Parliament recently passed a Bill on complete liberalization of renewable energy which would enable Lankans to invest in this field. As Seychelles is a member of the African Union, Sri Lankan businessmen could use Seychelles, as the Gateway to Africa, particularly to East Africa in their trade relations.

The visiting minister also called on the Economic Development Minister, Fisheries Minister, Industry and Commerce Minister and Defence and Urban Development Secretary for discussions.

Both ministers addressed a joint media briefing session and had an interaction with private sector representatives of leading health, ship building and hydro power sector companies. The bilateral meetings were also attended by External Affairs Ministry Secretary K. Amunugama and senior ministry officials.

Thursday 19 April 2012

Sri Lanka and Philippines rugby remain unbeaten at HSBC Asian 5 Nations

The Sri Lanka Rugby team led by Yoshitha Rajapaksa will kick off the proceedings of the HSBC Asian5Nations Division I Rugby Tournament in Manila, Philippines with their game against Chinese Taipei on Sunday (15).

The national players were under the watchful eyes of former England player Phil Greening for more than a month.

They were drilled well taking lot of pain to mould the inexperienced three quarters as the experienced Kandy SC three-quarters Fazil Marija, Pradeep Liyanage and Gayan Weeraratne kept away from practices.

Rizly Ilyas commenting on the issue said: “With the limited number of players attending practices and with the arrival of the coach we got the best out of the talent available. Though the team is inexperienced in international exposure, we are very happy with the coach and how it will all work out. Most of the Kandy SC players pulled out from practices. Further we have all the confidence in the leadership of Yoshitha who led the outfit to the Malaysian Sevens Bowl championship”.

He added: “We hope to end in the first two in Division I category and hopefully we will gain the necessary promotion next year. We are also thankful to the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) for arranging a warm up game for Sri Lanka before the important tournament matches on Sunday”.

Sri Lanka national rugby players lost all three matches at the HSBC Asian5Nations Top 5 segment last year.

Sri Lanka was beaten heavily by Japan but fought well against Hong Kong and Kazakhstan in lost games.

They tied against the United Arab Emirates game at 13-all in Colombo.

After Sunday’s game Sri Lanka will take on Singapore and will meet the hosts Philippine.

Sri Lanka and the Philippines set up a showdown for promotion to the HSBC Asian 5 Nations Top 5 competition in 2013 after winning their second round matches at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on Wednesday.

Division 1 top seeds Sri Lanka and the Philippines, the third seeds, will come face to face on Saturday with the winner to join the likes of Japan, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan in the elite tier next year.

While unbeaten Sri Lanka and the Philippines are targeting promotion, for Singapore and Chinese Taipei the battle is to avoid relegation to Division II and the end of their involvement in the region’s qualifying process for Rugby World Cup 2015.

The Philippines Volcanoes are one of the most improved nations in Asia over recent years in their climb up the A5N pyramid, and the 34-12 win over Chinese Taipei was a family affair with three sets of brothers in the starting line-up.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

New catalogue of tourism.

The catalogue of tourism in Sri Lanka published by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Moscow, Russia was presented to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the Ambassador Udayanga Weeratunga yesterday (April 16) at the Temple trees. The 300 page catalogue on Sri Lanka tourism was composed by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Russian Federation with the patronage of the President and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the assistance of the Tourism Promotion Bureau of Sri Lanka.

Monday 16 April 2012

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS SIGNED WITH PALASTINE

Two bilateral agreements were signed between Sri Lanka and Palestine today, covering protocol issues relating to the two countries and avoidance of double taxation.

The agreements were signed by External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and his Palestinian counterpart Nour Al Maliki at the Presidential Secretariat, following a meeting between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

President Mahmoud Abbas, who is on a two-day official visit to the island, held one-to-one talks with President Rajapaksa today morning on issues relating to the countries.

Bilateral talks were also held between the delegations of the two countries, according to the Government Information Department.

Friday 13 April 2012

Double Wisden honour for Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara‎

Apr 11, London: The 2012 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack has chosen Sri Lanka's former cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara as both the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2011 and one of the Five Cricketers of the Year.

Sangakkara, most revered cricketer both locally and internationally, has become the first cricketer to earn both honors for the first time since Wisden began naming a Leading Cricketer in the World in 2004.

Honoring the outstanding batsman and the wicketkeeper who led the team to the 2011 World Cup runner up position, commended his MCC Cowdrey Lecture last year and said Sangakkara has shown that a cricketer's talents need not be limited to the field of play.

"Kumar Sangakkara saved the Rose Bowl Test for Sri Lanka with his maiden Test hundred in England, and - in earning a standing ovation for his MCC Cowdrey Lecture - showed that a cricketer's talents need not be limited to the field of play."

In 2011, no one came close to matching the 2,267 runs the 34-year-old Kumar Sangakkara scored in all international cricket, Wisden noted.

"Overall, no one made more than Sangakkara's five hundreds or his 13 fifties and he now stands alone in topping 1,000 runs in both Tests and one-day internationals in a single year on three occasions. But Sangakkara had other virtues too. He had adaptability, scoring Test centuries in the damp of Southampton and the humidity of South Africa, and compiling a double-hundred in the stifling heat of Abu Dhabi. He showed leadership, captaining Sri Lanka to the World Cup final and taking over again for the Rose Bowl Test in England," .

Following the ICC World Cup loss to India Sangakkara resigned from the captaincy in May 2011 but agreed to continue as the Test captain for the series with England in that summer.

Presenting the MCC Cowdrey Lecture in July 2011, Sangakkara courageously delivered a scathing attack on the politically influenced and corrupted cricket board Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

He was the first person from Sri Lanka to give the prestigious annual lecture and the first current international player to make the address.

CLINTON URGES SRI LANKA TO BUILD A “DEMOCRATIC NATION”

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday urged Sri Lanka to build a “democratic nation” with full respect for human rights as it emerges from decades of ethnic war.

Clinton’s message, coinciding with the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year, came weeks after the UN Human Rights Council adopted a US-tabled resolution urging Colombo to probe war crimes charges related to its 2009 defeat of Tamil rebels.

Sri Lanka condemned the resolution as wanton interference in its internal affairs.

“This (new year) celebration brings people together,” Clinton said.

“It also gives Sri Lankans of all backgrounds an opportunity to help build a prosperous, democratic nation defined by tolerance and respect for human rights.”

Clinton stressed US willingness to support the island’s efforts “to foster national reconciliation and development.”

The two communities share a common new year marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the monsoon.

The resolution adopted in Geneva urged Sri Lanka to probe war crimes charges, implement the recommendations of a domestic inquiry into the war and seek UN help for reconciliation with the ethnic Tamil minority.

Colombo has denied its troops were responsible for any non-combatant deaths and refused to allow any independent probe into allegations of military excesses.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris is due to hold talks with Clinton in Washington next month. (AFP)

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Tsunami warning for Sri Lanka

A tremor was felt in Sri Lanka including Colombo a short while ago. The Disaster Management Centre reported that an earthquake has struck with a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale near Sumatra. A tsunami warning has been issued throughout the coastal region in Sri Lanka.

The DMC also issued a tsunami warning following the tremor. Those living along the Northern, Eastern and Southern coasts have been asked to gather their belongings and seek safety.

The DMC stated that the effects of the earthquake will most likely be felt at around 4 p.m. today.

All trains running on the coastal lines have been suspended temporarily.

All leave for medical staff of hospitals near coastal areas have been cancelled and have been called to report to work immediately, Health Ministry said a short while ago.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre stated that Dondra Point, Trincomalee, Colombo and Jaffna will likely be the areas affected.

A few high rise buildings have been evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, all hotels in coastal areas especially in the South, East and Western Provinces are advised to take precautions to ensure the safety of tourists instructed by Sri Lanka Tourist Board.

Sri Lankan sea turtle

There are many wildlife conservation centres in Sri Lanka, Sea Turtles Conservation in Bentota South is one of them.

The largest sea turtle in the conservation centre

Sea turtle’s egg

The white sea turtles are called “Albino Turtles”. Only 1 or 2 of the eggs that are hatched will be Albino turtles. Their shells are much softer than other turtles’ and therefore are kept within the sanctuary until they are around 10 yrs old and then released to the sea. Because of the weaker cartilage that makes their colour they are very vulnerable and can be easily captured by predators.

Adult big sea turtle

Brief description about Sri lanka ( After the 30 years war )

A long-awaited deal between Sri Lanka's government and the rebel Tamil Tigers (LTTE) was concluded in early 2002. However, fighting became much more serious in 2006. Much of the country became no-go areas for tourists. The most serious fighting was in the northeast part of the country where the Tamil people were in majority. There were isolated attacks, however, throughout the rest of the country, notably in Colombo with a suicide bomb and in Yala National Park.

In 2009, the government, which had escalated their offensive, announced that the leader of the LTTE, Velupillai Prabhakran, had been killed during a gun battle. It ended 26 years of fighting with the LTTE – time will tell whether the LTTE has finally stopped fighting. Immediately after the war was declared over by the government, it set up camps for 250,000 displaced Tamils. However, these camps were condemned by some human rights organisations because it is alleged they were used to find rebels, and then execute them.

In January 2010, Mahinda Rajapaksa won a landslide election against former army chief General Sarath Foneska who led the final attack on the LTTE.

In August 2010, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office removed the final travel restrictions across all of the country. It has effectively allowed tourists (who previously wouldn’t have been able to get insured) to tour the entire country for the first time since the 1990s. In 2009, the Sri Lankan stock market was one of the best performing in the world.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka says that Sri Lanka has been successful in recording the highest economic growth rate since the independence. A special feature has been that Sri Lankan economy growing at the rate of eight percent or more continuously for two years for the first time. The Bank further says the main economic achievement is the value of the gross national product becoming equivalent to 6,543 billion rupees. The industrial and service sectors have extended the highest contributions amounting to 10.3 and 1.8 percent respectively for the economic growth in the year 2011. The contributions of the agricultural sector have been at 1.5 percent.

The per capita income has increased to 2,836 American dollars. This figure stood at 2,400 American dollars the year before the last. The investments which remained at 27.6 percent in the year 2010, have increased to 29.9 percent in 2011. The Central Bank further points out that the unemployment which stood at 4.9 percent in 2010 has reduced to 4.2 percent in 2011. The number of unemployed persons has reduced to 340,000.

The arrival of tourists has also increased by 31 percent last year. The earnings in the tourism sector have also increased by 44 percent. The government’s revenue has gone up by 14.4 percent in 2011. The figure amounted to 935 billion rupees. The government expenditure has been reduced to 21.4 percent. The substantial reduction of the recurrent expenditures as well as deployment of government capital for infrastructure projects have pave the way for this situation. Another special achievement has been to maintain inflation on a single digit for the past three years.