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| Sunday, 24 October 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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An English woman's fascination with Sri Lanka : It's like coming home "We first came to Sri Lanka way back in 1977. At that time we were a young family; My husband was working for Bank of England and I was running a mini super market in the outskirts of London.
We were booked into Pegasus Reef Hotel by the tour operators, which at the time was one of the few star class hotels in the country with the luxury of air conditioned rooms and excellent pool facilities. Since then it was our practice not to repeat a tour to the same destination; but with Sri Lanka and Pegasus Reef Hotel it was an exception. It was primarily the hotel and the people we came to know during our brief stay in Sri Lanka who prompted us to come back after a lapse of two years. By that time we had befriended two local families; that of the chauffeur.tour guide who took us around the first time we were here and the other of a small jewellery boutique owner who operated a shop just across Pegasus Reef. The relationship nurtured with our second visit since our primary focus was to see the country thru' the eyes of the people. In our case this was feasible since we never relied on arranged tours/ tour packages but made our own arrangements. Our second visit affirmed our love for this country and its people. By that time we had two families who were very well known to us and through them, a wide array of others (mostly their friends and relatives) who befriended us in no time. For all of them we were 'uncle and aunty' and there was always a constant flow of visitors and a string of invitations from the moment we landed here. Since our second visit, it became an annual journey for the two of us. We travelled to Sri Lanka during the height of insurgency when dead bodies were floating in the canal. Pegasus Reef Hotels was all welcome to accommodate us. From the General Manager down to the pool attendants were always by our side on call always ready to make us wanted and comfortable. Hence we considered Pegasus our home away from home. To add to that the catering staff too knew exactly what we wanted and how we wanted. Hence we were very much at home at Pegasus. I should pay special tribute to some of the old staff at the hotel like Edward who has been with the hotel from our very first visit in 1977. Although the management of the hotel has passed through many hands during the period, we have always been made to feel special here. The warmth of the staff was so great that we decided to come even when my late husband was confined to a wheel chair since we knew that there would always be someone at the lobby, at the pool side or by the cafeteria to help us around or sometimes even to carry him around. My daughter who accompanied me several times to Sri Lanka was amazed with the hospitality. It was simply like having your family around. The efficiency of the staff and the professionalism of the hotel management also prompted us to become shareholders of Pegasus Reef Hotel. We made it a point to enhance our share portfolio during every visit. Despite many advice given to me I still hold the share portfolio since the place has been special to me and it will always continue to be of sentimental value to me more than the financial gains from the sale of shares. Today our circle of friends include a wide array of Sri Lankans ranging from medical practitioners, company directors, architects, engineers grocery shop owners, car repairmen, drivers and cleaning staff. They come from all parts of the island from the hills of Nuwara Eliya to deep down south. The families have grown as our very own; the young adults we met in 1977 have turned grand parents and the toddlers have become very responsible parents; We see them with a sense of pride as if they are our own. But the two families we made acquaintance during our very first visit always occupy a special place in our hearts. Today I am here on my own. People back home and even my own family was surprised when I announced that I wanted to come back this time on my own since my daughter could not accompany me. But for me it is like coming home to a very friendly place where I feel special and wanted. |
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