|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 27 June 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Siddhalepa Resort, ideal for herbal treatment by Chanuka Mannapperuma Ayurveda is a unique ancient herbal medicine practised in Sri Lanka for centuries.
It is based on Buddhism and the ancient wisdom of good living. The means of healing available in nature,like herbs, spice, plants, leaves, flowers, oil extracts, stones, combined with secrets passed down from generation to generation for about 5000 years to revitalise the essence of the body's potential. It provides both health therapy for general well-being and a medical therapy as an efficacious cure. Located in Wadduwa away from the hustle and bustle of the city, "Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort" provides visitors a rare privilege of experiencing ayuvedic treatment while enjoying the hospitality of the well experienced staff employed by the hotel. The resort could be considered as yet another Ayurvedic link from centuries of Ayurveda heritage of Hettigoda family. Siddhalepa ayurveda health resort is a four star hotel surrounded by woodland and meadow, fronted by sparkling blue ocean water creating an ideal atmosphere for a harmonious holiday. The architectural designs of the resort depict the ancient heritage and culture of Sri Lanka belonging to different eras. The hotel comprises 50 rooms (40 therapy rooms) in chalets with luxury items such as mini bar in the rooms. the hotel offers a mixed buffet while on the other days it is a set menu (with all vegetables,fruits and meats) This is a apart from providing food to suit the individual taste. "At our resort, we provide a whole range of ayurvedic treatments catering to the needs of our visitors," said Chairman of Hettigoda Group Dr. Victor Hettigoda while explaining the services offered by the Ayurveda treatments.Siddhalepa Resort provides traditional Ayurvedic therapy to cleanse, detoxify, rejuvenate the mind, body and soul, skin, weight, hair, visualty and to promote general welness for health conscious clients. All these medicines are manufactured at the Siddhalepa manufacturing plant. A guest who comes for 3 nights for therapy, is provided with a three hour treatment service per day while food is prepared according to the medicine they take. "The guests who stay for more than six nights in the resort are given lectures on how to live an ayurvedic life". The health resort has five inhouse doctors, well experienced therapists and out side mediators. Yoga and meditation also take a prominent place at the Siddhalepa Health resort. These two also goes as a part of ayurveda. " Our mind always seeks freedom from pain and sorrow. Be clear on this, only a mind which is free from evil, anger and hatred is a free mind. When this happens, the mind becomes deeply conditioned and super soft with great noble thoughts flowing in, Hettigoda added.He says sitting silently , chanting, praying, walking, meditation and breathing meditation etc, help to keep the mind free from all evil. Yoga also helps to brings man to the natural state of tranquillity, which is equilibrium.Thus yoga has both preventative and curative value. Hettigoda said these ayurvedic therapies and treatments are very popular among tourists arriving in the country. "Around 80% of foreigners (mainly from Japan and Germany) are arriving at the resort to obtain knowledge on Ayurveda living as they know the value of ayurveda." Now it is the need of the hour to promote this ayurvedic therapies and treatments in local hotels among foreign travellers as well as domestic travellers as it would be another sources of generating income for the country said Hettigoda. ****************** Info Travel boon to tourists by Jayampathy Jayasinghe The first publication of Info Travel, a book on travel in Sri Lanka was launched in Colombo recently. The book is illustrated with colourful photographs of tourist destinations, national parks, archaeological sites, hotels, guest houses, restaurants villas etc.
It contains a wealth of information regarding domestic travel and useful tips on travel by bus and rail. There are few pages on eco-tourism as well. The book compiled and written by Dinesh Kulatunga is published by Neptune Publications (PvT) Ltd. Journalist D.C. Ranatuna who has reviewed the Info travel says travel has become popular with the prevailing peace in the country. Info travel has become a useful guide to carry as it provides a wealth of information to the traveller. The eighteen road maps from A1 to A 35 gives information, a motorist need. Each map has a set of symbols for easy reference. They refer to filling stations, police stations, hotels, hotels and rest houses, tyre services garages, telephone booths, ATM centres, telecommunication points, wine stores, hospitals, post offices etc. Industry, Tourism & Investment Promotion minister Arjuna Ranatunga who was the chief guest said there was little information on matters connected to domestic travel within Sri Lanka. Travellers would benefit a great deal if a magazine like the Info is printed in Sinhala as well. The Tourism ministry has several plans in the pipeline to make the country a leading destination. One such plan was to appoint cricketer Muttiah Muralidrian as the Tourism Ambassador to promote Sri Lanka, he said. Sri Lanka Tourist Board Director General S. Kalaiselvam said tourist ar rival in Sri Lanka over the past four decades had jumped from a mere 10,000 in 1966 to 500,000 in 2003. He said even domestic tourism had increased tremendously although statistics were not available with them. The Managing Director of Neptune Publication (Pvt) Ltd, Lanka Prasada also spoke. ****************** Thantirimale on tourist map Thantirimale, almost a forgotten hamlet, nestling in the scrublands between Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa era engulfs an ancient Buddhist shrine that dates back over 2500 years. In recent times the re-discovery of this strategic cultural heritage as an archaeological and tourist center has gained significant popularity. The century old Bodhi tree said to be as old as the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi, is perched on a granite rock, adding significant grandeur to the surrounding areas. M/s Target Travels (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of Ranfer Group, undertakes yet another 'soul searching trek', taking devotees and archaeological enthusiasts alike to Thantirimale during the long weekend in July. Night stays will be at Anuradhapura's Galway Miridiya Hotel and the Sigiriya Village. During the tour, the group will visit Munneswaran Kovil, St. Anne's Church, Talawila, Hatthikutchi and Thantirimale among others. Meal stops at Puttalam Rest House, Namala Resort and a buffet launch at Kandalama Hotel. Luxury coach transport, guide service, good meals and comfort stops, bottled drinking water, wet towels (to freshen up) are some of the extra services the client will enjoy when you join a tour by M/s Target Travels Ltd. ****************** ITEX Travel show by Colvin L. De Silva, Our London Correspondent Sri Lanka Tourist Board together with members of the Tourist Trade participated in the first ITEX Travel Show held in London. This is the first show ever to be held for independent tour operators, travel agents and suppliers in the United Kingdom. Travel trade has grown into one of the fastest changing sectors in recent years, beyond the imagination of Thomas Cook. Innovation is the new watchword in the tourism business world over including Sri Lanka and the sun and sand image is losing its appeal. Speaking to Charmarie MmMaelge, Director UK, Benelux & Ireland I gathered that the Board has launched three new consumer brouchres themed on nature, culture, adventure and a weddings and honeymoon brouchure. The third being an outdoor activity brochure. Outdoor activity brouchure talks about popular activity based tourism products such as water sports which has a high potential of market growth. Maelge said that Sri Lanka is today one of the most popular weddings and honeymoon destinations in the UK. Several promotional activities carried out including competitions. TV programmes and participating in wedding shows have been extremely helpful in attracting more and more couples and wedding parties to Sri Lanka. Increased confidence levels of the tour operators and the consumers together with wide publicity obtained via travel magazines and publications for the destination has created a clear trend of substantial increase of tourist arrivals from UK. In fact the year 2003 saw half a million tourists visiting Sri Lanka. World class spas, spiritual havens, retreat packages and endless sightseeing opportunities have put Sri Lanka in a top slot in the tourism map. Together with the Tourist Board Aitken Spence, Jet Wing, Ceylon Tours and Gemini took part in this Travel Show. World Travel Mart held once a year is only for the trade representatives and this show is open to individual traveller in the luxury category, said the Director Chamarie Maelge. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
