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| Sunday, 7 August 2005 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Boats on the canal to boost leisure tourism by Surekha Galagoda Leisure tourism in the country will get a further boost with the launch of a boat service by International Waterways (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of Infoconsult Inc of Canada. The boats will ply from Battaramulla to Wellawatte along the main canal.
Each stop would be developed to include a leading pier with restaurants, Internet cafes, ATMs and mini shopping malls. International Waterways (Pvt) Ltd, a BOI approved company is the promoter of the first inland passenger boat service to be launched early next year. Project Director, Nimal Gonaduwa said " We will start with leisure tours in October and then introduce eco tours for nature lovers before the launch of the passenger service early next year. The rationale behind this concept of gradual introduction of the boat service is the concern for safety and security of the passengers," he said. He said that two boats will be introduced initially each costing US$ 200,000. The boats will be purchased from Canada. We plan to add two boats each quarter and plan to own a maximum fleet of 16 boats. He said that diesel powered passenger vessels are environment friendly and air-conditioned 48-seaters will be built to the highest international standards. Most importantly they are unsinkable. The fare for each journey would be around Rs. 40 and a boat would be at a jetty every five minutes up or down. Currently, the area of the canal that the project will be operated is neglected. The banks, waterways and water serve is a dumping ground for garbage and waste water systems that bring industrial waste and effluent materials. These have polluted the water in the canal beyond acceptable standards. Therefore we have undertaken to clean up the canal and landscape and replant trees on the canal banks as part of the project. At present we are educating the people who live on the river banks on the benefits of the project with the objective of making their back garden a front garden with the water front and it is estimated to cost approximately Rs 2 million. Once the passenger service is launched it will ease the flow of traffic into the city over the years, and contribute to a cleaner environment by minimising the emissions of carbon monoxide. In addition to this, the new concept, while being an useful facility for commuters, will improve the scenic beauty of the canal bank route. The development of the project will also enhance opportunities for new entrepreneurships and thereby create much-needed employment in the relevant areas. The project itself is expected to give direct employment to around 500 youth while ancillary development is expected to provide employment opportunities for another 2,000 youth. According to Company sources, the project has many economic benefits. Some of these include an increase in economic revenue, revenue for the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLR&DC), Urban Development Authority (UDA), Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Kotte Municipal Council (KMC) and an increase in the number of tourist visits to the city of Colombo by 250,000 per year. The social benefits of the project are expected to contribute to reliable and timely alternate transport service while also reducing respiratory diseases. Forty percent of all jobs created by the project are reserved for unemployed youth and women. The project would result in a revitalised canal and landscaped canal banks while also providing recreation and leisure facilities to the public. This landmark project has an initial foreign investment of Rs.1.6 Billion. The promoter, Infoconsult Inc. of Canada, has already spent approximately US$750,000, on feasibility studies to produce a bankable report. The boat service would target the day-to-day office staff, school children, tourists and leisure travellers. The service would commence near the turn off to the Parliament road at Battaramulla and end at the Wellawatte canal near the Marine Drive. Each journey would take about 30 minutes. We are planning to introduce a special rate for daily office travellers and a discounted fare for schoolchildren, he said. Gonaduwa said that this project has achieved the current status due to the supporting role played by the Canadian Government, CIDA and President Infoconsult Inc Canada Philip Ekanayake . They sponsored the studies which took nearly two-and-a-half years. He also commended the support given by Ministers Anura Bandaranaike and Dinesh Gunawardena, SLLR&DC and the UDA. ######### AMEX 'Selects Travel' deals Nations Trust Bank, sole issuer of American Express Cards in Sri Lanka, launched 'Selects Travel', the latest facility in the 'American Express Selects', worldwide promotion, a new privilege program for its customers which has been enthusiastically received by American Express Card members locally and internationally. "American Express Selects which has over a thousand offers of superior shopping, dining and travel in 24 countries is a win for both customers and merchants " said Head of American Express Cards in Sri Lanka, Priyantha Talwatte . Selects Travel includes a whole range of travel benefits and offers whereby Card members could avail themselves of facilities at attractive discounts at most of Sri Lanka's reputed hotels and resorts. These include selected hotels within the Jetwing Group, Keells Hotels, Confifi Hotels, Connaissance Hotels, Yala Village, Tea Trail Bungalows and the Aryana Spa. |
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The boats will stop at Nawala near the Open University, Kotte marsh,
Apollo hospital, Former Wellawatte Spinning and Weaving Mills, St. Peter's
College and complete its journey in Wellawatte on the Marine Drive. 
