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 Tourism’s 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 Lanka’s most treasured festivals; a memory to be cherished. 

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 ‘PATA CEO Challenge 2008 on Confronting Climate Change’, saw  Sri Lanka Tourism’s 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 International’s 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.

Veterans of the association seeing the need for professionalism to be maintained committed funds and time to this venture with love and dedication – a united organization, an example to many.

Sri Lanka Calling congratulates the SLINT GL for this initiative and wish their dream becomes a reality in the near future – with the building complete and training sessions in progress.

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The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (London) will hold the “CIMA World Conference” in Colombo from 28th to 31st May at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.

Sri Lanka Tourism extends a warm welcome to all visitors including the distinguished panel of dignitaries John Hume of Ireland and of the Social Democratic Labour Party - recipient of the Martin Luther King and other peace awards; Coa Yuanzheng of China, Chief Economist, Bank of China; Dave Steward of South Africa, Executive Director, Frederick Willem de Klerk Foundation; Peter Velappan of Malaysia, General Secretary Asian Football Federation.

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Sunday 25th May, the 15th Amangalla ‘Salon’ will come alive with Afdhel Aziz, described as – ‘ poet, writer, Sri Lankan Globe Trotter, editor of magazines and an international man of mystery’ discusses his poetry and read from some of his favourite poets and give a preview of his new novel ‘Strange Fruit’  

This Amangalla Salon, as on previous occasions, will is expected to be a delightful treat for those who are stimulated by intellectual debate and discussion. For more details email to amangalla@amanresorts.com

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The facsimile reprint of ‘The Rock and Wall Paintings of Sri Lanka’ by Senake Banadaranayake with photographs by Gamini Jayasinghe was launched recently at the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology.

This book brings together almost all the available material belonging to the early and middle historic periods and selected studies of the Kandyan and Southern schools of later times.

Prof. Senake Bandaranayake is an archaeologist of international repute well known for his excavations and research of the World Heritage site of Sigiriya. The photography is by Gamini Jaysinghe, who has over four decades of experience in photo- documentation of Sri Lankan murals. 

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Tim Arnold, Director International Operations Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music is currently visiting Sri Lanka on the invitation of ABRSM Sri Lanka representative Mano Chunmugam and his team Neomal and Pam de Alwis.

ABRSM in their over 110 long year history of association with music in Sri Lanka have contributed immensely to the growth of musical talent by imparting the broadest education in music.

Tim is accompanied by Sarah Berman, tours coordinator for Sri Lanka, and they will be travelling South to Matara, to meet the Director and coordinator of Healing Hands Children’s Trust and some of the recipients of scholarships - a post tsunami ABRSM (London) funded activity.