Sri Lanka Tourism Participates for Korea World Travel Fair 2014 (KOTFA 2014)

Sri Lanka Tourism participates for the 29th Korea World Travel Fair 2014 (KOTFA 2014) held from 29th May to 1st June 2014 in Seoul.

KOTFA is the leading Travel Fair organized by the Korean World Travel Fair Committee, that is being held annually in Korea having participation of more than 500 travel related organizations from over 60 countries (KOTFA 2013 Report) and the only travel fair being held in Seoul, Hosted by the Korean Tourism Association.

KOTFA has been identified as a proper plat form to exhibit Sri Lanka in Korean market as SLTPB participates annually together with trade participants.

Korea has been identified as one of the most prospective potential markets considering the tourism arrivals to Sri Lanka. Adequate marketing campaigns and promotional activities carried out in order to maintain the continuous improvements of the arrival numbers from Korea, to attract high spending Korean tourist and also to make the Koreans aware about the attractions of Sri Lanka.

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International Conference on Digital Marketing 2014

Organized by The International Institute of Knowledge Management, the International Conference of Digital Marketing is to be held at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo on 03rd and 04th June 2014. The conference seeks to involve researchers, scholars and professionals examining theories, strategies, challenges, and future trends of Digital Marketing

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Poson Festival – June 12th

Marking the birth of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Poson poya day is much celebrated event and dates back in 3rd Century BC when king Devanampiyatissa was converted to Buddhism by Arahat Maha Mahinda, the son of King Asoka, the Emperor of India, after which Buddhism was declared the State religion.

The entire country celebrates this significant milestone, but it all culminates at Mihintale, known as the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, for it is believed to be there that the conversion took place. In fact it is in the Ambasthale Dagoba, the temple in Mihintale, accessible by 1840 steps, that it is in believed that the historic encounter took place.

On Poson poya day, many devotees make their way to temple to spend reflective hours in meditation while there are also several sil campaigns, Dan Sal, Poson devotional songs and pandols among others.

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Sancharaka Udawa – “A Must Exploit Opportunity”

The Press launch of Sancharaka Udawa 2014 was held on yesterday 12th May 2014 at Monara Restaurant of Sri Lanka Tourism & Hotel Mgmt. Institute, with the participation of many industry members, local media and travel industry stake holders. The head table of the press conference was represented by Dr. D.S. Jayaweera – Director General, Sri Lanka Tourism, Mr. Rumy Jauffer - Managing Director, Sri Lanka Tourism, Mr. Mahen Kariyawasam -SAITO President, Mr. Harith Perera- SLAITO, Mr. Ziyan Ameen- President SLAPCEO, and Mr. Nilmin Nanayakkara – Immediate Past President SLAITO.

Sancharaka Udawa 2014 exhibition & convention is an important annual event for all stakeholders engaged in the tourism industry. Be it a hotel of different size or scale, a services provider of different thatcher, or a supplier with diversity the Sancharaka Udawa 2014 is an opportunity, which house their needs and solutions under one roof.

Better than before, this year’s event held for the 4th consecutive year on 27th and 28th of June 2014 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Centre. It will consist over 200 stalls and a special pavilion of outbound tourism service providers. Sancharaka Udawa 2014 is organized by Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) together with Sri Lanka Tourism to bring together a wide network of personnel across the industry. It is the only gathering of this nature in Sri Lanka - since its inception in 2011.

Concurrently the general membership of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound tour Operators (SLAITO) will hold their Special General Meeting on 27th June 2014 at 9.00 am at the same venue. This will ensure the attendance of key players in the Tourism Industry at Sancharaka Udawa 2014.

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Vesak Festival - May 14th

Vesak is the main Buddhist religious festival in Sri Lanka. During this time, people celebrate the triple anniversary of Lord Buddha - his birth, his attaining of Enlightenment and his passing away into Nirvana.
Also known as the Buddhist Festival of Light, colorful bamboo framed lanterns adorn the interior of every home and incredible luminous displays decorate the streets of most towns. Visit Bhauddoloka Mawatha, the main street in Colombo, to catch this glowing spectacle in full glory.
Vesak marks the first month of the Buddhist Calendar. This is a day spent in reflective prayer as people cease wordly pursuits and engage themselves in religious activities. Devotees Buddhists pray in temples from dawn until the dusk. As the sun sets, devotees partake in processions and return to the temples in the evening to hear monks read stories from sacred texts.
Stalls on the roadside distribute free refreshments to passers-by and there are some fantastic mime and street theatre performances, staged on tall platforms near temples in cities and towns throughout the country.

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Sri Pada ("Adam's Peak") Annual Pilgrimage Season

Hatton Adam’s Peak or Sri Pada is an important pilgrim site. The devotees of many religions climb the mountain to invoke blessings. Buddhist believes the impression on the summit is the footprint of the Buddha. Sripada is the 4th highest mountain in Sri Lanka and it takes 4-5 hours to reach the peak by foot. The mountain is also named as Samanala Kanda or Butterfly Mountain. The area is rich in biodiversity and surrounded by the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary. The pilgrimage season starts on Unduwap Poya.

The season begins in December and ends in April.

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Koneswaram Kovil in Sri Lanka

Munneswaram, a slumbery, sleepy and normally inactive hamlet, lying in the outskirts of Chilaw, comes alive this season, with complex ritualistic festivities, ceremonies and processions, culminating with the water cutting ceremony, to be performed at the Deduru Oya, two miles off Chilaw, on September 16.
The Munneswaram temple, dedicated to Lord Ishwara, is reminiscent of other celebrated and renowned temples like Koneswaram and Thiruketheeswaram, in which, three Sivalingams are enshrined.
Munneswaram has preserved its sylvan charm and enchantment, with the scenic surroundings _ with vast acres of paddy _ and hemmed in by tanks, which irrigate all farming and cultivation there.
The main temple at Munneswaram has been revamped, largely due to generous donations and assistance by devotees, who throng the sacred precincts to invoke and implore the deities, and solicit spiritual succour and material comfort.

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Munnswaram Temple in Sri Lanka

Munneswaram temple is an important regional Hindu temple complex in Sri Lanka, a predominantly Buddhist country. It has been in existence at least since 1000 CE, although myths surrounding the temple associate it with the popular Indian epic Ramayana, and its legendary hero-king Rama. The temple is one of five ancient temples (Ishwarams) dedicated to Shiva in the region

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Hantana in Sri Lanka

The Hanthana Mountain Range lies in central Sri Lanka, south-west of the city of Kandy. It was declared as an environmental protection area in February 2010 under the National Environment Act. The maximus height of the range is 3800 ft. The mountain range consists of seven peaks. The highest one being the Uura Kanda .The range is a favourite destination among the mountain hikers in Sri Lanka. University of Peradeniya is situated adjacent to the Hanthana mountain range.

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Embekke Dewalaya,Kandy in Sri Lanka

Around 13 km from the Kandy city, a Buddhist temple dates from the 14th century is situated in "Arathtana". It is decorated by wooden columns richly carved with animals, dancers, and wrestlers.

Gardener of the flower garden in Embekke of Queen Henakanda Bissobandara tried to remove a "Kaduru" tree from the garden. When he cut it a stream of blood began to flow from the tree. After knowing the miracle, drummer  perform the rituals there as he was ordered to do by the god. He built a small temple called the "Embekke Devalaya".After some days the king Wickramabahu in Senkadagala era, ordered to build a three story building there and  gave land, queens'  jewelry  and elephants as gifts. Since then the temple of Embekka is worshipped by people.Today, the drummers' relatives perform rituals 

in Embekke.

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Dams in Sri Lanka

The following pages most dams in Sri Lanka. Most of these dams are governed by the Mahaweli Authority, while the Ceylon Electricity Board operates dams used for hydroelectric power generation. Most dams are used for irrigation or water supply, while others are used for hydroelectric power generation. Some dams are also utilized for more than one purpose. Only dams with a length of more than 100 m (330 ft) or a height of 10 m (33 ft) are listed.
Hydroelectric dams, including dam-less hydro such and pumped-storage and run-of-the-river, and small hydros accounts for nearly half of the installed power capacity of Sri Lanka.

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