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| Sunday, 25 September 2005 |
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Namal Uyana's Comfort center opens on World Tourism Day by Surekha Galagoda
The Comfort centre at Namal Uyana built at a cost of Rs 3.2 million by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) will be opened on September 27 to commemorate World Tourism Day. The Comfort centre was built by the SLTB under the guidance of its Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara and Director Development and Resort Management T. Suriyagoda. The Architect of the Project is Sujan Herath. The Comfort centre which was built within four months includes a restaurant, kitchen, toilets and an information centre. Namal Uyana was declared a natural forest reserve on May 8. It is densely populated with Na trees Mesua ferrea, the national tree of Sri Lanka. The range of seven hills in the forest reserve is said to be Asia's largest pink quartz mountain range and is over 500 million years old. The name National Namal Uyana was given by Ven Vanawasi Rahula Thera, Chief Incumbent, Namal Uyana. Rich in biodiversity National aNamal Uyana consists of 972 hectares of land and is home to over seventy-two different kinds of medicinal plants, 18 species of birds and one of the 14 rare species of lizards. To reach Namal Uyana one has to travel on the Dambulla/Anuradhapura Road (approximately 158 kilometres from Colombo) and proceed on the Andiyangala Road from Madatugama junction and travel six-kilometres. According to archaeological monuments and remains of ancient buildings found at Namal Uyana such as the stone pillars, moonstones, footprint of Lord Buddha, house of Bo tree and rock cut stairways. The history of the place dates back to the early period of Anuradhapura. The Namal Uyana was a royal sanctuary declared by King Dappula 924AD and in the 8th century it was used as an open prison camp where the punishment or fine was to plant Na trees.
Namal Uyana is considered one of the most important eco systems in Sri Lanka. The unique feature is its eco systems and bio diversity. Although it is a secondary forest in the dry zone area the vegetation dominated in the forest is similar to wet zone vegetation. There are numerous springs. One stream which disappears at one place reappears elsewhere. According to history Moghul king Shajahan had used pink quartz from the pink quartz mountain range at Namal Uyana to build a pink panel at the Taj Mahal. The Comfort centre will be handed over to the Jathika Namal Uyana Conservation and Development Trust who will have to maintain it. The members of the Trust include Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary to the Environment Minister, Central Province District Secretary and several other members representing other ministries. ######### Oneworld - world's best Airline Alliance again Oneworld has been named the world's Best Airline Alliance for the second year running in a poll of some of the world's most frequent flyers. It received its latest honour in the 2005 Business Traveller Awards. The magazine presents its trophies based on the findings of its annual poll of its readers, who include some of the most widely travelled passengers around the world. This is the only travel survey conducted by a UK-based publication which is independent, authoritative and which complies with the rules laid out by the Market Research Society. It is the fourth time the magazine has presented the award - and the third time it has been won by Oneworld. Oneworld was also named the World's Leadiing Airline Alliance for the second year running in most recent World Travel Awards, which is based on votes cast by 80,000 travel agencies professionals from more than 200 countries. The Business Traveller award was presented by Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, at a ceremony in London attended by hundreds of senior travel professionals. Oneworld Vice-President Corporate Affairs Michael Blunt, who received the trophy on behalf of the alliance said: "This is a great vote of confidence on Oneworld from some of the most discerning, demanding and knowledgable travellers in the world. It reflects the quality of our airline members and our efforts to deliver alliance customer service better than any one else." |
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