The Hot Air Balloon Festival

The Annual Hot Air Ballooning Festival organized by the Ceylon Air Ship and Balloon Club is held in March in and around Sigiriya, Hambanthota and Colombo with the participation of nearly 40 participants from around the world. The Balloonists follow a path around the country traveling from down south to North-central plains of Sri Lanka and ending in Independence Square in Colombo for final display of the balloons participating in the event.

Deyata Kirula Exhibition 2014

The Deyata Kirula exhibition will be held centering Kurunegala, Puttalam, and Kegalle Districts, 21st of February 2014 onwards. 

The Deyata Kirula is an extraordinary annual festival which exhibits our country’s dignity to the world. Not only to the world, but this is also an opportunity for Sri Lankans to improve their awareness on cultural heritage and the pride of the history. 

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotional Strategy Leads Emerging Markets to Change the Tourism Mosaic of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Tourism arrivals domain has been changed by the emerging new markets occupying the place of long held traditional dominant markets according to the arrival statistics issued for January 2014. This can be seen as an effective result of the strategic promotional campaigns executed in year 2013, giving much focus on the identified emerging markets than totally relying on the traditional European markets for growth.

The growth factors of the emerging markets compared with 2013 January vs. 2014 January, recorded extremely high levels of improvement. According to the latest arrival figures, the highly focused emerging markets such as China has gained 3rd place, Russia move up to 4th place while India remaining at 01st followed by Ukraine, Australia as graphically illustrated .

“Sri Lanka Tourism & Peking Express (Belgium) Sign an Agreement to Promote Sri Lanka Through a Popular Adventure Reality Series”

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and The Echo Line Limited (ECL)- a Belgium based Film Production Company along with the French Company “Label Aventure” entered into an agreement for producing the 10th season of Adventure reality series called “Peking Express” for the French TV channel M6. The program will showcase entire 03 episodes out of the 11 taking place in Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka will get 330 minutes of exposure with the title called “Share the dream”.

“Sri Lanka is Set for a Tourism Boom ” Says China Daily Newspaper

The latest issue of leading Chinese newspaper, China Daily Asia Weekly has carried an article on Sri Lanka Tourism stating that “Sri Lanka is all set to transform its tourism sector and make it the largest foreign exchange earner by attracting 2.5 million tourists in year 2016.On its path for expanding tourism sector a heavy focus has been given to attract Chinese tourists and investors alike”. The cover story of the has highlighted that Sri Lanka is becoming one of the most sought after new holiday destinations for Chinese travelers who seek a mix bag of exotic experience and exciting travel.

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotional Strategy Highly Acclaimed by China - Wins the Prestigious Award for “Most Friendly Government Institute Worked with China in Year 2013”

Embassy of The People’s Republic of China has placed honor on Sri Lanka Tourism by declaring them as the winner of the prestigious award for “most friendly government institute worked with China in year 2013”. The award was received by Mr. Bashwara Gunarathna –Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism from H.E. Ambassador of China Wu Jianghao, in a grand ceremony recently held at BMICH-Colombo parallel to Chinese New Year Celebrations.

Aliya Resort & Spa, Sigirya Ceremonial Opening – 96 Room Theme Resort – New Addition to the Cultural Triangle

This year visitors to the Cultural Triangle, Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Pidurangala Rock Temple will be able to stay at a brand new four star hotel, Aliya Resort & Spa in Sigiriya.

Named after the beloved elephant or ‘aliya’ in the Sinhala language, this brand new 96 roomed hotel has brought an investment of 1.4 billion rupees ($7.8 million) to the Cultural Triangle. Aliya Resort and Spa Ceremoniously opened by Chief Guest Hon. Basil Rajapakse, Minister of Economic Development in the presence of Hon. Sarath Ekanayake, Chief Minister of the Central Province, Mr. Bhashwara Gunarathna Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism, Mr. Rumy Jauffer Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Dr.D.S Jayaweera Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Aliya Resort & Spa Chairman/Managing Director Mr.Chandra Wickramasinghe and several Tourism industry stake holders.

Travel and Leisure Magazine Recognized Sri Lanka as the “Best Travel Destination” for Chinese Travelers

Sri Lanka was awarded with the “Best Travel Destination” Award at the Annual Travel Award Ceremony of the Travel and Leisure Magazine of China held on 16 January 2014 in Beijing.

Awards were given for Best Travel Destination, Best Hospitality Provider, Best Airlines and Best Travel Organizer.

Sri Lanka Attracts a Record Breaking 1,274,593 Tourists to the Country in 2013

Sri Lanka Tourism has validated the tourism arrival figures for each month of the year 2013 and according to the latest validation; Sri Lanka in total has received 1,274,593 tourists during the year 2013.

The new validation was carried out based on the statistics provided by the computer data collection method of Immigration and Emigration Department of Sri Lanka. The new system is a joint effort of both the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and the Emigration and Immigration Department of Sri Lanka to ensure that the country accurately captures the tourist arrival figures.

Comprehensive Tourism Guide Book Launched in Colombo

Under the leadership of His Excellency Ambassador Udayanga Weeratunga, Sri Lankan mission in Russia has initiated a series of promotional campaigns to market Sri Lanka as the preferred tourism destination among the Russian travelers.

Under these campaigns, which are fully backed by the Sri Lanka Tourism, one of the activities conducted during the year 2012 was the ‘Tourist Guide Book’ published in the Russian language which highlights the attractions of Sri Lanka.

Moving a step ahead, the Sri Lanka’s mission in Russia has now translated this book into English to be distributed among Sri Lanka’s tourism stakeholders including the Island’s missions in overseas countries.

Through the mission the book would also be distributed to travel and tour operators operating in key tourism markets of Sri Lanka.

The book was launched this morning in Colombo, which saw the copy of the book being handed over to the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Mr. Bhaswara Gunaratne by ambassador his Excellency Udayanga Weerathunga.

Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Mr. Rumy Jauffer, Dr. D.S Jayaweera, the Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism and several other industry stakeholders were also present during the occasion.

66th National day of Sri Lanka on 04th February

Sri Lanka celebrates the gaining of her independence from Colonial rule with magnificent pomp and pageantry and the spirit of patriotism resonates in every street corner on the island’s National Day.

I Love Una - 11th January 2014

A Lifestyle...For friends... By friends. Kicked off in 2010, ''I Love Una'' was a spur of the moment, just-for-kicks idea which was originally planned to be a small gathering of close friends in Unawatuna. What it eventually turned out to be was far more than what we imagined. Now with the annual ''I Love Una'' event we bring people of all walks of life together to enjoy the beach, the music, and the essence that is Unawatuna.